The Role of Social and Management Sciences in Addressing Global Challenges

Abstract

This study examined the role of social sciences and management in addressing global challenges, with specific reference to Wesley University, Ondo, and the Methodist Church Nigeria. In response to the increasing complexity of global issues such as climate change, poverty, and inequality (Islam & Winkel, 2017), the study was justified by the need to understand how integrating social sciences into management practices can enhance effective solutions (Gupta et al., 2025). It addressed the problem of inadequate integration of social sciences in institutional management strategies, which limits their capacity to respond to global challenges. The objectives were to evaluate the role of social sciences in management, assess the contribution of leadership and social capital to global challenge mitigation, and propose strategies for improving management effectiveness. Guided by social capital theory, which emphasises networks, relationships, and community engagement in problem solving (Chen, 2025), the study adopted a mixed-methods approach involving surveys and interviews with 200 participants. The findings showed that leadership, community participation, and the application of social science knowledge significantly influenced management practices in addressing global challenges. Based on these results, the study recommended promoting interdisciplinary approaches, strengthening leadership development programmes, enhancing community engagement, and encouraging global collaboration. It concluded that integrating social sciences into management strategies is vital for effectively addressing global challenges and that institutions should adopt policies that support leadership, collaboration, and research, while suggesting further research on the long-term impacts of these strategies.