Driving Organizational Innovation Through Transformational Leadership

Abstract

Purpose of the study- This research aims to provide a deeper understanding of the extent that transformational leadership can affect the organization to be innovative. To understand this relationship, three propositions will be developed through literature survey. This paper will further examine whether culture, followers’ creativity or organizational learning have any influence on this relationship. Design / methodology / approach- To propose a conceptual model, this research provides an overview of literature on transformational leadership and organizational innovation. This review of literature develops propositions that relate transformational leadership with the organizational innovation through three factors: culture, followers’ creativity and organizational learning. Research Questions- The research questions are: RQ1: How can the components (dimensions) of the transformational leadership behavior promote innovation on the organizations? 2 RQ2: To what extent the linkage between transformational leadership and organizational innovation can be affected by culture, followers’ creativity and organizational learning? Findings- The propositions demonstrate that transformational leaders have potential to affect their organizations to be innovative using some factors. These findings encourage managers and leaders to inspire their followers, learn and acquire the transformational leaders’ behaviors in order to enhance the innovation of their followers and to achieve organizational innovation. The Findings also provide evidence that transformational leadership should be the subject of management and training. This in turn will improve the innovation performance and development of the UAE. Research limitations- This research have two following limitations: First, this model is a conceptual one and not been empirically validated yet in Arab countries. Second, research relating to transformational leadership and organizational innovation has been limited on most of Arab countries even on Non-Western countries, which will present different cultural characteristics from Arab countries. Research Implications: Practical / managerial implications- Organizations should invest in transformational leadership training and in the selection of managers and supervisors with this leadership style. Such investment may actually help to improve innovation, promote better work environment and achieve the success and survival of organization in long term.