Author(s): Marius-George PORUMBIȚĂ
Publication name: Romanian Intelligence Studies Review
Publisher name: Mihai Viteazul National Intelligence Academy
Publication type: Journal article
Publication date: December 31, 2025
Pagination:
Issue/ Volume: 2 (34)/2025
DOI:
Abstract:
This article explores the relationship between managerial competencies and
organizational performance, with a specific focus on intelligence organizations operating
in highly complex and uncertain environments. Building on the theoretical models of
managerial skills, the study integrates classical categories of competencies – technical,
cognitive, and social – with modern dimensions such as emotional intelligence, social
intelligence, and adaptability. The empirical research is based on a qualitative methodology,
using semi-structured interviews with 18 managers from an intelligence institution. The
analysis demonstrates that managerial performance is not the result of a single dominant
competence, but rather of a dynamic equilibrium between multiple dimensions. Technical
competencies provide credibility and ensure operational efficiency, while cognitive
abilities enable strategic thinking and objective decision-making. Social and emotional
competencies emerge as decisive in building trust, cohesion, and motivation within teams.
Adaptability and continuous learning are identified as crucial for ensuring resilience and
innovation in fast-changing contexts. The study also highlights critical limitations, such as
the restricted sample size and the reliance on self-reported data. Overall, the findings
confirm the necessity of shifting managerial evaluation and selection processes towards
a more integrative approach that values relational and adaptive skills alongside
professional expertise. The conclusions underline both the theoretical contribution to
leadership studies and the practical relevance for strengthening organizational resilience
and sustainable performance in intelligence settings.
Keywords: managerial competencies; organizational performance; intelligence
organizations; emotional intelligence; social intelligence; adaptability.
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