How ethical leadership cultivates radical and incremental innovation: the mediating role of tacit and explicit knowledge sharing

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 849-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Lei ◽  
Anh Thi Lan Ha ◽  
Phong Ba Le

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of ethical leadership on radical and incremental innovation through the mediating roles of tacit and explicit knowledge sharing (KS). Design/methodology/approach The paper used a quantitative research method and structural equation modeling to test the research hypotheses based on a sample of 365 participants from 115 Vietnamese firms. Findings The results indicated that ethical leadership is positively related to radical and incremental innovation. In addition, tacit and explicit KS significantly mediate the relationship between ethical leadership and the two types of innovation. Research limitations/implications This study is cross-sectional, which limits its ability to control the specific features of the correlations among the factors in the long term. Practical implications The findings of this study suggest that leaders should invest in practicing and applying a moral lens to motivate positive KS behaviors of employees and organizational capabilities for innovation. Originality/value This study significantly fills gaps in the literature and advances the understanding of how ethical leadership fosters employees’ KS to improve radical and incremental innovation.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gedif Tessema Sinshaw ◽  
Atul Shiva ◽  
Manjit Singh

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the mediating role of knowledge process capability (KPC) between ethical leadership (EL) and administrative innovation (AI) in the banking sector of Ethiopia.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted by a standardized questionnaire survey to collect the data from 266 employees of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in 93 branches. The study employed structural equation modeling approach with Analyzing Moment of Structures 23.0 to test the hypothesized mediation model.FindingsThe results of this investigation disclose that EL has a significant and direct effect on AI and KPC. KPC also influences AI significantly.Originality/valueThe study revealed that KPC plays a partial mediating role in linking EL to AI, which is a new contribution to the existing literature of EL. This dimension can provide new dimensions to design organizational leadership which is based on sustainability paradigm. This can strengthen the organizational capabilities aiming to increasing innovative behaviors in order to have a deep-seated strategy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-327
Author(s):  
Abhishek Kalra ◽  
Rupashree Baral

Purpose Enterprise Social Network (ESN) systems have emerged as the technology of choice to bolster and support organizational efforts for harnessing embedded knowledge. However, a lack of understanding about it limits the optimization of its potential. Hence, this paper aims to assess the role of hedonic motivation, network externalities (NE) and top management support in conjugation with the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology theory to understand ESN’s usage for knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 187 ESN users through a survey questionnaire and subsequently analyzed using variance-based structural equation modeling using the partial least squares method. Findings ESNs are used both for utilitarian and hedonic purposes. Furthermore, the results also bring out the importance of externalities arising from an extensive network of users and complimentary services, as well as support regarding resources and recognition from the top management toward reinforcing the benefits of using ESNs. Research limitations/implications This study advances earlier knowledge by assessing the actual usage of ESNs for knowledge sharing. It takes into consideration multiple input variables, namely, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, NE amongst others to best resonate with the key factors driving its adoption and usage by an individual. However, because of the cross-sectional research design, causality can only be inferred. Practical implications The organizations are recommended to have in place the measures for attaining optimal usage of ESNs, and in turn, witness knowledge moves around in ways unfathomable. Steps should be taken to develop tools and ecosystems to provide users affordances for both increasing productivity, as well as opportunities for gaining pleasure. Originality/value This study is one of its kind effort to synthesize the knowledge about the ESNs in an Indian context. It provides fascinating insights into the determinants of intention and usage of ESNs for knowledge sharing.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1504-1521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Machado Fonseca Ramalho Marques ◽  
Jefferson Lopes La Falce ◽  
Juliano Martins Ramalho Marques ◽  
Cristiana Fernandes De Muylder

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationships among organizational stress, disengagement from knowledge sharing and knowledge management maturity in a public institution of higher education in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach Descriptive and quantitative means were used; in particular, a questionnaire developed by Batista (2012), the Instrument for Knowledge Management Assessment in the Brazilian Public Administration, a scale developed by Ford and Staples (2008) to measure the disengagement from knowledge sharing and the Occupational Stress Scale, developed by Paschoal and Tamayo (2004) were used to collect data. A multivariate analysis was performed, including the use of structural equation modeling to relate the constructs to each other. Findings A positive significance was found in the relationships between organizational stress and disengagement from knowledge sharing and between stress and maturity in knowledge management. This finding supports the suggestion of Ford et al. (2015) that health, a key indicator, is directly related to disengagement from knowledge sharing. Research limitations/implications This study adopted a cross-sectional design, so a longitudinal or experimental research may discover other insights. Originality/value These results will be interesting to managers because stress management initiatives can help guide or identify opportunities to improve maturity in knowledge management and knowledge sharing.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 957-975 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phong Ba Le ◽  
Hui Lei ◽  
Thanh Trung Le ◽  
Jiexi Gong ◽  
Anh ThiLan Ha

Purpose This paper aims to examine the influence of collaborative culture on employee’s knowledge sharing and how it associated with radical and incremental innovation in Chinese firms. Design/methodology/approach This study used the quantitative approach and structure equation model to test hypotheses with data collected by questionnaire from 371 participants in 68 Chinese firms. Findings The research findings indicated that collaborative culture positively fosters the KS behaviors of employees for radical and incremental innovation. The findings confirm the mediating role of tacit and explicit knowledge sharing and reveal that collaborative culture has a significant impact on incremental innovation, whereas knowledge sharing behaviors have greater impacts on radical and incremental innovation. Research limitations/implications Future research should investigate the impact of collaborative culture on innovation under moderating effects of ownership form or mediating roles of behavioral variables to have better understanding on the relationship among them. Practical implications This study offers leaders a deeper understanding of the necessary factors and new pathways to stimulate employees’ tacit and explicit knowledge sharing for innovation. Originality/value The paper has significant contributed to theoretical and practical initiatives on the theory of innovation which highlighted the crucial role of collaborative culture in facilitating a positive climate for knowledge sharing and innovation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phong Ba Le ◽  
Hui Lei

PurposeThe study aims to explore the differences in transformational leadership’s (TL’s) influences on each aspect of innovation capability, namely, product innovation and process innovation. It also deepens understanding of the pathways and conditions to improve specific aspects of innovation capability by assessing the mediating role of knowledge sharing (KS) and moderating mechanism of perceived organizational support (POS).Design/methodology/approachThe paper utilized structural equation modeling and cross-sectional design to test hypotheses in the proposed research model based on using data collected from 394 participants at 88 Chinese firms.FindingsThe findings indicate that KS mediates TL’s effects on innovation capabilities. In addition, the influences of TL and KS on specific aspects of innovation capability are different and depend on the extent of employees’ POS.Research limitations/implicationsFuture studies should test mediating roles of knowledge management’s constituents and/or investigate the moderating roles of firm ownership form to increase the understanding of potential factors or key conditions that may have significant influences on a firm’s innovation capability.Practical implicationsThe paper significantly contributes to increasing the understanding of the link between TL and specific aspects of innovation capability by highlighting the important role of stimulating KS and enhancing POS.Originality/valueThe paper provides useful information and valuable initiatives to increase leadership outcomes and firm’s capability for innovation.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Yasir ◽  
Abdul Majid ◽  
Zahid Yousaf ◽  
Abdelmohsen A. Nassani ◽  
Mohamed Haffar

PurposeThis study aims to propose a model based on knowledge sharing (KS) to explore that how functional flexibility (FF) and psychological empowerment (PE) plays a mediating role between KS and innovative work behavior (IWB) among employees of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachCross-sectional plan was employed to investigate the hypothesized model. Survey instrument was used to collect data from 769 employees of SMEs through self-administered questionnaires. Furthermore, correlation and structural equation modeling approach was used for the analysis of collected data.FindingsThe findings revealed that KS has a significant positive relationship with IWB. Second, FF and PE fully mediate between KS and IWB.Originality/valueThis study offers empirical evidence how to flourish a mechanism of IWB among employees in SMEs. Furthermore, this study highlighted some facts that should be meaningful options for human resource managers to understand the nexus of KS, FF and PE for enhancing the IWB among workers in SMEs. Moreover, the study in hand provided significant implications for management by focusing on KS as a fundamental predictor for IWB via FF and PE.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irfan Raza ◽  
Zainudin Awang

PurposeTaking higher educational institutes (HEIs) operating in Islamabad metropolitan, and Pakistan as research context, the purpose of this paper is to identify the antecedents of knowledge sharing behavior (KSB) and to check their causal effect in perspective of culturally diverse academic staff. In addition, the authors suggest certain policies for HEIs that can raise knowledge sharing practices in multicultural environment.Design/methodology/approachIt is a cross-sectional study, quantitative in nature, and has used a self-administered questionnaire for data collection. With proportionate stratified random sampling technique, 278 academic employees working in three faculties from six public sector universities operating in Islamabad metropolitan have recorded their responses. This research also applied confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to examine the proposed hypothesis of this inquiry.FindingsThe empirical results indicate significant and positive effect of cultural diversity management, interpersonal trust, and leader-empowering behavior on KSB, whereas knowledge technology has insignificant effect on KSB of culturally diverse academic staff. Moreover, proposed model has explained 54 percent variation in endogenous construct.Practical implicationsThe present research aids academic leadership in designing policies and strategies to enhance knowledge sharing among faculty members and to create a supportive knowledge sharing culture.Originality/valueThis study fills the empirical gap that exists in literature by exploring the antecedents and their effect on KSB of multicultural academic staff associated in public sector HEIs in Islamabad metropolitan, Pakistan.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Laid Ouakouak ◽  
Nour AlBuloushi ◽  
Noufou Ouedraogo ◽  
Nabeel Sawalha

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate whether openness to receive and openness to share knowledge drive employees to share knowledge with colleagues in the workplace. The authors also investigate what, if any, influence knowledge sharing has on performance at both individual and work unit levels. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 237 employees from eight banks in Kuwait. Structural equation modeling techniques were used to test the hypotheses. Findings The knowledge receiver’s openness to receive and openness to share knowledge influence the provider’s knowledge-sharing behavior. The latter positively affects the provider’s job performance and the work unit’s innovation performance. Furthermore, knowledge utilization strengthens knowledge sharing’s positive effect on work unit innovation. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study are industry and country specific and, therefore, would likely not be applicable to other settings. Thus, similar future research targeting different industries and/or countries is warranted. As a cross-sectional study, this research can also benefit from subsequent longitudinal studies. Practical implications Organizations should create a culture conducive to sharing knowledge. For example, managers should assure employees that knowledge shared with coworkers will be well received and utilized, remove barriers to new knowledge utilization and create awareness among employees that sharing knowledge benefits knowledge providers as well as knowledge providers. Originality/value The authors provide evidence of how the knowledge receiver’s openness to receive and to share knowledge affect the provider’s knowledge sharing. The authors also provide insights into how knowledge sharing drives job performance and innovation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-Ling Liu ◽  
Chieh-Peng Lin ◽  
Mei-Liang Chen ◽  
Pei-Chun Chen ◽  
Kuang-Jung Chen

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a moderated mediation model to explain how corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ethical leadership influence knowledge sharing and job dedication through the mediating mechanism of positive affective tone and cognitive meaningfulness. Design/methodology/approach The research hypotheses were empirically tested using a survey of employees from the high-tech industry in Taiwan. The research constructs in this study were measured using five-point Likert scales modified from existing literature. The survey data were empirically analyzed with two-step structural equation modeling (SEM) and regression analysis. Findings The empirical results of this study reveal that CSR and ethical leadership positively relate to positive affective tone and cognitive meaningfulness. Knowledge sharing is positively affected by positive affective tone whereas job dedication is positively affected by positive affective tone and cognitive meaningfulness. While the relationship between positive affective tone and job dedication is positively moderated by job demand, the relationship between cognitive meaningfulness and job dedication is negatively moderated by job demand. Originality/value This study elucidates the ethical influences from organizations (i.e. CSR) and leaders (i.e. ethical leadership) respectively to explain affective and cognitive processes involved in work situations. At the same time, by clarifying the moderating role of job demand, this study provides valuable implications for managers to effectively leverage job demand for increasing employees’ job dedication.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linnan Gui ◽  
Hui Lei ◽  
Phong Ba Le

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to clarify the effects of transformational leadership (TL) on radical and incremental innovation through the mediating roles of knowledge sharing (KS) behaviors. This study also attempts to bring deeper insight of the correlation among the latent factors by examining how knowledge-centered culture (KCC) moderates the effects of TL on KS behaviors and innovation capability.Design/methodology/approachThis study conducts a questionnaire survey and Structural Equation Modeling to test the proposal research model based on a sample of 321 participants in 85 service and manufacturing firms.FindingsThe results revealed that KS behaviors significantly mediate the relationship between TL and two types of innovation. Specifically, knowledge collecting has more significant effect on incremental innovation compared with influence of knowledge donating. By contrast, knowledge donating has a greater effect on radical innovation compared with effect of knowledge collecting. The paper also highlights the important role of KCC in enhancing the effects of TL on KS activities and innovation capabilities.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has highlighted the important role of KCC as it positively moderates the influences of TL on KS and innovation capability.Practical implicationsThe study provides evidence that TL style is the main driving force of KS processes. Managers should prioritize practicing this leadership style to improve employees' KS behaviors and firm's innovation capability.Originality/valueThe study significantly fills the gaps in the literature that emphasizes how KS behaviors induce different impacts on specific aspects of innovation capability. By exploring the moderator of KCC, the paper significantly contributes to advancing the understanding of how transformational leaders foster employees' KS behaviors for improving radical and incremental innovation.


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