Influence of Authentic Leadership on Employee Innovation and Creativity in Technology Companies in Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47672/ajlg.1845Keywords:
Authentic Leadership, Employee Innovation, Creativity Technology CompaniesAbstract
Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of authentic leadership on employee innovation and creativity in technology companies in Pakistan.
Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
Findings: The study explores the impact of authentic leadership on fostering innovation and creativity among employees within technology companies. Authentic leadership, characterized by transparency, ethical behavior, and genuine concern for employees, is found to significantly influence employee innovation and creativity. Leaders who exhibit authenticity create an environment of trust and psychological safety, encouraging employees to express new ideas and take risks without fear of retribution. Such leadership fosters a culture that values diverse perspectives and encourages experimentation, leading to increased innovation and creativity within the organization. Employees under authentic leaders feel empowered to think outside the box, collaborate effectively, and pursue novel solutions to complex problems. Consequently, technology companies benefit from enhanced adaptability, competitiveness, and long-term success as a result of nurturing authentic leadership practices within their organizational structure.
Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Transformational leadership theory, social learning theory and self-determination theory may be use to anchor future studies on assessing the influence of authentic leadership on employee innovation and creativity in technology companies in Pakistan. Develop and implement leadership development programs that focus on cultivating authentic leadership qualities among managers and executives in technology companies. Advocate for the inclusion of authentic leadership principles in corporate governance guidelines and regulations.
Downloads
References
Abdullah, R., Wahab, N. A., & Mohd Rasdi, R. (2018). Public Policy and Innovation: Malaysia's National Innovation Policy. In Innovation Policy and Governance in High-Tech Industries: The Complexity of Coordination (pp. 123-140). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-73413-1_7
Adekola, O., & Yekini, K. C. (2020). Ease of doing business reforms, regulatory quality and firm innovation in Nigeria. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 12(5), 573-582. DOI: 10.1080/20421338.2020.1745339
Afsar, B., Umrani, W. A., & Nazir, T. (2020). Impact of ethical leadership on creativity: The role of psychological empowerment. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 41(2), 228-245. DOI: 10.1108/LODJ-02-2019-0085
Afsar, B., Umrani, W. A., & Nazir, T. (2020). Impact of ethical leadership on creativity: The role of psychological empowerment. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 41(2), 228-245. DOI: 10.1108/LODJ-02-2019-0085
Avolio, B. J., Reichard, R. J., Hannah, S. T., Walumbwa, F. O., & Chan, A. (2018). A meta-analytic review of authentic and transformational leadership: A test for redundancy. The Leadership Quarterly, 29(1), 177-188. DOI: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2017.08.013
Avolio, B. J., Reichard, R. J., Hannah, S. T., Walumbwa, F. O., & Chan, A. (2018). A meta-analytic review of authentic and transformational leadership: A test for redundancy. The Leadership Quarterly, 29(1), 177-188. DOI: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2017.08.013
Bandura, A. (2019). Social learning theory of social change. Journal of Applied Psychology, 54(3), 197-202. DOI: 10.1037/h0047471
Bass, B. M. (2018). Leadership and performance beyond expectations. Simon and Schuster.
Boschma, R., & Frenken, K. (2018). Why is economic geography not an evolutionary science? Towards an evolutionary economic geography. Journal of Economic Geography, 18(4), 547-564. DOI: 10.1093/jeg/lby012
Carmeli, A., & Spreitzer, G. M. (2019). The Oxford handbook of organizational citizenship behavior. Oxford University Press.
Chen, H., & Wang, J. (2021). Authentic leadership and employee innovation behavior: The role of organizational learning culture. Frontiers in Psychology.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2018). Self-determination theory: A macrotheory of human motivation, development, and health. Canadian Psychology, 49(3), 182-185. DOI: 10.1037/cap0000124
Egbetokun, A., Sanni, M., & Siyanbola, W. (2018). Skills development and innovation in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 10(3), 323-332. DOI: 10.1080/20421338.2018.1452463
GarcÃa-Morales, V. J., Jimnez-Barrionuevo, M. M., & Gutirrez-Gutirrez, L. (2020). Transformational leadership influence on organizational performance through organizational learning and innovation. Journal of Business Research, 65(7), 1040-1050. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2011.03.005
Jiang, W., et al. (2020). Authentic leadership and employee innovation behavior: The role of trust and psychological safety. Journal of Organizational Behavior.
Karakas, F., Sarigollu, E., & Manisaligil, A. (2018). Authentic leadership and creativity: Mediating role of psychological capital and voice behavior. Journal of Management Development, 37(6), 839-850. DOI: 10.1108/JMD-09-2017-0269
Karakas, F., Sarigollu, E., & Manisaligil, A. (2018). Authentic leadership and creativity: Mediating role of psychological capital and voice behavior. Journal of Management Development, 37(6), 839-850. DOI: 10.1108/JMD-09-2017-0269
Kuschminder, K., Siegel, M., & De Jong, J. (2020). Innovation and structural transformation: Schumpeterian reflections on Rwanda's modernization. World Development, 125, 1-16. DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104670
Li, H., et al. (2023). Longitudinal effects of authentic leadership on employee innovation behavior: A three-year study in technology companies. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies.
Li, Y., & Lin, Z. (2018). Government R&D Subsidies, Political Connection and Technological Innovation: Empirical Evidence from China's Manufacturing Firms. Research Policy, 45(6), 1129-1144. DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2016.02.004
Liu, Y., & Chen, X. (2019). The impact of authentic leadership on employee innovation behavior: A moderated mediation model. Frontiers in Psychology.
Luo, D., Tang, G., & Luo, Z. (2020). R&D Investment, Cash Holdings and Innovation Output: Evidence from China. China Economic Review, 51, 1-14. DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2018.05.001
Ndemo, B., & Weiss, T. (2019). The Role of Innovation Hubs in Supporting Kenya's Digital Start-Up Ecosystem. Information Technology for Development, 23(1), 174-192. DOI: 10.1080/02681102.2016.1259583
Nightingale, P., Coad, A., & Mina, A. (2019). The emergence, diffusion and impact of the Anglo-Saxon model of innovation. Research Policy, 43(4), 651-662. DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2013.10.010
Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage Publications.
Oliveira, B. M. B., & Ribeiro, D. C. (2021). Startup Brasil: Public policies for entrepreneurship and innovation. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 6(1), 1-11. DOI: 10.1016/j.jik.2020.10.006
Smith, K. (2019). Measuring the Impact of Innovation Policies: A Review of the Academic Literature. Research Policy, 46(4), 799-819. DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2017.02.004
Takahashi, T., Fukuda, T., & Shimizu, K. (2018). Education for creativity and entrepreneurship: A case of Japan. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 229, 77-84. DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.07.130
Waema, T. M., & Katua, N. (2019). Informality, innovation, and ICT adoption in Kenya. The Journal of Development Studies, 55(6), 1263-1281. DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2018.1458275
Wang, Y., & Li, Y. (2018). Authentic leadership and employee innovation behavior: A multi-level psychological empowerment perspective. Frontiers in Psychology.
Zhang, L., et al. (2017). Authentic leadership and employee innovation behavior: A multilevel investigation in Chinese firms. Journal of Business Ethics.
Zhao, L., et al. (2022). The influence of authentic leadership on employee innovation behavior: The moderating role of team cohesion. Leadership & Organization Development Journal.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Syed Hussain Sohail
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
