A review of the relationship between leadership style and innovation: insights and directions for future research

Abstract

This chapter aims to critically reflect on the available literature on leadership style and innovation, and especially to assess the linkages between these variables. It starts with an overview of leadership studies, tracing the historical emergence and development of leadership theories, from the Great Man theory, trait theory and leader behaviour theory to situational and contingency theories of leadership. It then delves deeply into the transformational theory, owing to the vast amount of research focus that appears to be dedicated to this theory. The chapter critically analyses the scope of transformational theory, and explores the gaps that may need refinement in order for the theory to remain relevant in the current, 21st Century, business environment. The chapter also discusses innovation theory and literature related to different perspectives on innovations, including the radical and disruptive views, the ambidextrous perspective, design thinking, open, lean and horizontal models, and their impacts on organizational performance. The chapter then turns to explore the linkages between managing innovation, leadership style and organizational performance. The review in this chapter adds to the existing literature and provides support for the contention that innovation impacts organizational performance, while leadership has a moderating impact on this relationship.

The Role and Meaning of the Digital Transformation As a Disruptive Innovation on Small and Medium Manufacturing Enterprises

“…Organizations that want to be successful disruptive innovators must embed in their organizational culture the mindset that disruptiveness is not the creation of something new or breakthrough and that disruptive innovations are not events but a process in which resources are allocated within the organization, with a view to continuous technological evolution and meeting the changing needs of existing and potential new consumers ( Rastogi et al, 2019 ). As part of its strategy, management must be aware of the importance of disruptive innovations policies within the Fourth Industrial Revolution.…”

The Integration of the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and Blockchain Technology for Advancing the Wine Supply Chain

“…The proposed methodology uses a scientific, transparent, and demonstrable protocol to search and critically analyze the current publications [92,93] and reduces bias in the identification, selection, evaluation, and synthesis of the existing research body when compared with traditional narrative reviews [94][95][96]. In addition, Christofi and colleagues [97], as well as Rana and co-authors [98], stressed the significance of SLR, indicating that it is a useful method for summarizing the key findings of vast and complex research subjects, bridging present gaps, and identifying unexplored areas for future research [99][100][101].…”

How leadership style influences the enterprise sustainability and innovation

“…Today we live in a time of globalization where the business environment suffers from hard competition activities and pressure from technological development, which has shortened the life cycle of production. This has raised importance of creativity and innovations toward new ideas and strategies that will ensure sustainable business activities (Rastogi et al, 2019). Leadership is considered a crucial step in the whole process of innovation (Günzel-Jensen, Hansen, Jakobsen, & Wulff, 2018;Van Hemmen, Alvarez, Peris-Ortiz, & Urbano, 2015) and is considered key player within the structures of organization, since leaders are supposed to be able to lead to a positive working environment and address the issues that need to be changed through innovative processes, as well as motivate organizational members to meet and exceed expectations set by organizational objectives (Wipulanusat, Panuwatwanich, & Stewart, 2017).…”

“…Organizations today are facing highly competitive global economic circumstances, and in this regard, they are facing many challenges for their sustainability and strategic growth. This is directly linked with the interconnectivity of markets on a global level as well as the multilevel choices that are made available to customers nowadays (Rastogi, Yazdifar, Alam, Eskandari, & Bahloul, 2019). Recent investigations on leadership styles and approaches in corporations show that among many necessary skills, the primary leader's role is to activate and support followers by example and best practices that will make possible organizational success and achievement of Usually, the style of leader and leadership has been defined based on the behaviors that leaders have shown by analyzing their acts and how they motivate supporters and followers.…”

“…Recent investigations on leadership styles and approaches in corporations show that among many necessary skills, the primary leader's role is to activate and support followers by example and best practices that will make possible organizational success and achievement of Usually, the style of leader and leadership has been defined based on the behaviors that leaders have shown by analyzing their acts and how they motivate supporters and followers. This process is composed of several steps, including ways and ideas that leaders utilize to establish connections with followers in different contexts (Rastogi et al, 2019). Does the leader establish most of the processes themselves, or does it involve others in the process?…”