IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i22p15315-d976420.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Link between Ambidextrous Leadership and Innovative Work Behavior in a Military Organization: The Moderating Role of Climate for Innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Gökhan Akıncı

    (Graduate School, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, Istanbul 34469, Turkey)

  • Lutfihak Alpkan

    (Department of Management Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Beşiktaş, Istanbul 34367, Turkey)

  • Bora Yıldız

    (Department of Business Administration, Istanbul University, Fatih, Istanbul 34452, Turkey
    Department of Organizational Psychology, School of Business, Economics and Informatics, Birkbeck College, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, UK)

  • Gaye Karacay

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Beşiktaş, Istanbul 34367, Turkey)

Abstract

Innovative work behavior is a vital necessity that enables sustainable public sector organizations, particularly the highly centralized military ones, to successfully adapt to complex and rising challenges. This empirical study, drawing on the social exchange theory, investigates the separate and combined effects of ambidextrous leadership dimensions (i.e., opening and closing leader behaviors) on innovative work behavior and the moderating role of climate for innovation on these relationships. The data were collected from 425 participants working at Allied Command Transformation (ACT), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Warfare Development Command, and analyzed using AMOS and SPSS Process Macro. We found that while opening leader behavior of ambidextrous leadership was positively related to innovative work behavior, closing leader behavior had no significant effect on it. Findings also confirmed that the interaction of both (i.e., the combined effect of ambidextrous leadership) was positively related to innovative work behavior, and climate for innovation moderated the relations of both closing leader behavior and ambidextrous leadership to innovative work behavior. Based on these results, we discuss the managerial and theoretical implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Gökhan Akıncı & Lutfihak Alpkan & Bora Yıldız & Gaye Karacay, 2022. "The Link between Ambidextrous Leadership and Innovative Work Behavior in a Military Organization: The Moderating Role of Climate for Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:22:p:15315-:d:976420
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/22/15315/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/22/15315/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. James G. March, 1991. "Exploration and Exploitation in Organizational Learning," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(1), pages 71-87, February.
    2. Armstrong, J. Scott & Overton, Terry S., 1977. "Estimating Nonresponse Bias in Mail Surveys," MPRA Paper 81694, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. MacKenzie, Scott B. & Podsakoff, Philip M., 2012. "Common Method Bias in Marketing: Causes, Mechanisms, and Procedural Remedies," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 542-555.
    4. Yan Wang & Tachia Chin & Francesco Caputo & Hanfeng Liu, 2022. "How Supportive Leadership Promotes Employee Innovation under Uncertainty: Evidence from Chinese E-Commerce Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-14, June.
    5. La Anh Duc & Nguyen Dinh Tho & Dilupa Nakandala & Yi-Chen Lan, 2020. "Team innovation in retail services: the role of ambidextrous leadership and team learning," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 14(1), pages 167-186, March.
    6. Lee Cronbach, 1951. "Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 16(3), pages 297-334, September.
    7. Kay I. Penny, 1996. "Appropriate Critical Values When Testing for a Single Multivariate Outlier by Using the Mahalanobis Distance," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series C, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 45(1), pages 73-81, March.
    8. Demircioglu, Mehmet Akif & Audretsch, David B., 2017. "Conditions for innovation in public sector organizations," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(9), pages 1681-1691.
    9. Bruce Gashema, 2021. "Predicting innovative work behaviors through transformational leadership:The moderating role of corporate social responsibility," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 10(1), pages 69-84, January.
    10. Tu Yidong & Lu Xinxin, 2013. "How Ethical Leadership Influence Employees’ Innovative Work Behavior: A Perspective of Intrinsic Motivation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 116(2), pages 441-455, August.
    11. Zi-Lin He & Poh-Kam Wong, 2004. "Exploration vs. Exploitation: An Empirical Test of the Ambidexterity Hypothesis," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 15(4), pages 481-494, August.
    12. John Antonakis & Samuel Bendahan & Philippe Jacquart & Rafael Lalive, 2010. "On making causal claims : A review and recommendations," Post-Print hal-02313119, HAL.
    13. Paul S. Adler & Barbara Goldoftas & David I. Levine, 1999. "Flexibility Versus Efficiency? A Case Study of Model Changeovers in the Toyota Production System," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 10(1), pages 43-68, February.
    14. Hu, Wenan & Luo, Jinlian & Chen, Zhijun & Zhong, Jing, 2020. "Ambidextrous leaders helping newcomers get on board: Achieving adjustment and proaction through distinct pathways," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 406-414.
    15. Julia Mueller & Birgit Renzl & Matthias Georg Will, 2020. "Ambidextrous leadership: a meta-review applying static and dynamic multi-level perspectives," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 37-59, February.
    16. Busola Oluwafemi, Tolulope & Mitchelmore, Siwan & Nikolopoulos, Konstantinos, 2020. "Leading innovation: Empirical evidence for ambidextrous leadership from UK high-tech SMEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 195-208.
    17. Ahmet Cengiz Ucar & Lutfihak Alpkan & Meral Elci, 2021. "The Effects of Person–Organization Fit and Turnover Intention on Employees’ Creative Behavior: The Mediating Role of Psychological Ownership," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(4), pages 21582440211, December.
    18. Sajeet Pradhan & Lalatendu Kesari Jena, 2019. "Does Meaningful Work Explains the Relationship Between Transformational Leadership and Innovative Work Behaviour?," Vikalpa: The Journal for Decision Makers, , vol. 44(1), pages 30-40, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jihyeon Oh & Dae Hee Kim & Daehwan Kim, 2023. "The Impact of Inclusive Leadership and Autocratic Leadership on Employees’ Job Satisfaction and Commitment in Sport Organizations: The Mediating Role of Organizational Trust and The Moderating Role of," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Ardita Malaj & Selim Zaim & Nizamettin Bayyurt & Merve Tarim, 2023. "ESIB’s Antecedents: An Analytic Hierarchy Process Application in the Manufacturing Industry in Albania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-20, September.
    3. Irena Mladenova & Tsvetan Davidkov, 2023. "Leadership, Adaptability and Performance of Bulgarian Organizations – Cultural Reflections on Empirical Data," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 7, pages 93-113.
    4. Xiaoke Yang, 2024. "Managerial power and ambidextrous innovation: the moderating role of absorptive capacity and resource slack," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 1471-1495, August.
    5. Anastasia A. Katou & Dimitrios Kafetzopoulos & Anastasia Vayona, 2023. "Investigating the Serially Mediating Mechanisms of Organizational Ambidexterity and the Circular Economy in the Relationship between Ambidextrous Leadership and Sustainability Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, May.
    6. Saeid Karimi & Farzaneh Ahmadi Malek & Ahmad Yaghoubi Farani & Genovaitė Liobikienė, 2023. "The Role of Transformational Leadership in Developing Innovative Work Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Employees’ Psychological Capital," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-21, January.
    7. Dudung Abdurachman & Rudy M. Ramdhan & Ateng Karsoma & Alex Winarno & Deni Hermana, 2023. "Integrating Leadership in Job Demand Resources (JD-R) for Personal Performance in Military Institution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-12, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Partanen, Jukka & Kohtamäki, Marko & Patel, Pankaj C. & Parida, Vinit, 2020. "Supply chain ambidexterity and manufacturing SME performance: The moderating roles of network capability and strategic information flow," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    2. Yan Ling & Michelle Hammond & Li-Qun Wei, 2022. "Ethical leadership and ambidexterity in young firms: examining the CEO-TMT Interface," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 25-48, March.
    3. José Andrade & Mário Franco & Luis Mendes, 2021. "Technological capacity and organisational ambidexterity: the moderating role of environmental dynamism on Portuguese technological SMEs," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(7), pages 2111-2136, October.
    4. Strobl, Andreas & Bauer, Florian & Matzler, Kurt, 2020. "The impact of industry-wide and target market environmental hostility on entrepreneurial leadership in mergers and acquisitions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(2).
    5. Yu, Xiaoyu & Tao, Yida & Tao, Xiangming & Xia, Fan & Li, Yajie, 2018. "Managing uncertainty in emerging economies: The interaction effects between causation and effectuation on firm performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 121-131.
    6. Demetris Vrontis & Alkis Thrassou & Gabriele Santoro & Armando Papa, 2017. "Ambidexterity, external knowledge and performance in knowledge-intensive firms," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(2), pages 374-388, April.
    7. Tom J. M. Mom & Frans A. J. van den Bosch & Henk W. Volberda, 2009. "Understanding Variation in Managers' Ambidexterity: Investigating Direct and Interaction Effects of Formal Structural and Personal Coordination Mechanisms," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 20(4), pages 812-828, August.
    8. Wong, Christina W.Y. & Wong, Chee Yew & Boon-itt, Sakun, 2013. "The combined effects of internal and external supply chain integration on product innovation," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(2), pages 566-574.
    9. Mohamed Mohiya & M. M. Sulphey, 2021. "Do Saudi Arabian Leaders Exhibit Ambidextrous Leadership: A Qualitative Examination," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(4), pages 21582440211, October.
    10. Chang, Yi-Ying & Hughes, Mathew, 2012. "Drivers of innovation ambidexterity in small- to medium-sized firms," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 1-17.
    11. Lin, Liang-Hung & Ho, Yu-Ling, 2021. "Ambidextrous governance and alliance performance under dynamic environments: An empirical investigation of Taiwanese technology alliances," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    12. Ghiyoung Im & Arun Rai, 2008. "Knowledge Sharing Ambidexterity in Long-Term Interorganizational Relationships," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 54(7), pages 1281-1296, July.
    13. Feiz Abadi, Javad & Gligor, David M. & Alibakhshi Motlagh, Somayeh & Srivastava, Raj, 2024. "When and under what conditions ambidextrous supply chains prove effective? Insights from simulation and empirical studies," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    14. Lee, Neil Chueh-An, 2021. "Reconciling integration and reconfiguration management approaches in the supply chain," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    15. Son K. Lam & Thomas E. DeCarlo & Ashish Sharma, 2019. "Salesperson ambidexterity in customer engagement: do customer base characteristics matter?," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 47(4), pages 659-680, July.
    16. Matsuno, Ken & Kohlbacher, Florian, 2020. "Proactive marketing response to population aging: The roles of capabilities and commitment of firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 93-104.
    17. Chang, Kuo-Hsiung & Gotcher, Donald F., 2020. "How and when does co-production facilitate eco-innovation in international buyer-supplier relationships? The role of environmental innovation ambidexterity and institutional pressures," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(5).
    18. Vendrell-Herrero, Ferran & Bustinza, Oscar F. & Opazo-Basaez, Marco, 2021. "Information technologies and product-service innovation: The moderating role of service R&D team structure," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 673-687.
    19. Jiewei Zu & Jianan Wang & Jun Ma, 2022. "Ambidexterity in a Rapidly Changing Environment of China: Top Management Team Decision Making and Sustained Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    20. Ayda Amniattalab & Reza Ansari, 2016. "The Effect Of Strategic Foresight On Competitive Advantage With The Mediating Role Of Organisational Ambidexterity," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(03), pages 1-18, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:22:p:15315-:d:976420. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.