Year
2025
Abstract
Innovative work behavior is a strategic factor in strengthening innovation capacity in the public sector and fostering an innovative organizational climate. Understanding how transformational leadership and change management contribute to innovative work behavior is therefore essential for enhancing performance and sustainability in public organizations. This study analyzes the influence of transformational leadership on employees’ innovative work behavior, with change management as a mediating variable.
The study used a quantitative approach, with data collected from 159 employees of a public research institution. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with the Partial Least Squares (PLS) technique to examine both direct and mediating relationships among the variables.
The results show that transformational leadership has a significant positive effect on innovative work behavior (β = 0.388; p < 0.05) and on change management (β = 0.541; p < 0.05). Change management also significantly influences innovative work behavior (β = 0.361; p < 0.05) and mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and innovative work behavior. This indicates that transformational leadership, mediated by effective change management, enhances employees’ capacity perform innovative work behavior.
The study contributes to the literature by emphasizing the mediating role of change management in linking transformational leadership and innovative work behavior, an area still underexplored in public sector contexts. Practically, the findings provide guidance for leaders and policymakers to strengthen leadership capacity while institutionalizing change management practices to foster sustainable innovation.
Keywords:
Innovative work behavior; Transformational leadership; Change management; Public sector
Recommended Citation
Fibrihirzani, Hafsah and Pusparini, Elok Savitri, "Driving Innovative Work Behavior in the Public Sector: The Roles of Transformational Leadership and Change Management" (2026). International Conference on Business and Management Research (ICBMR). 30.
https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/icbmr/2025/1/30
Included in
Driving Innovative Work Behavior in the Public Sector: The Roles of Transformational Leadership and Change Management
Innovative work behavior is a strategic factor in strengthening innovation capacity in the public sector and fostering an innovative organizational climate. Understanding how transformational leadership and change management contribute to innovative work behavior is therefore essential for enhancing performance and sustainability in public organizations. This study analyzes the influence of transformational leadership on employees’ innovative work behavior, with change management as a mediating variable.
The study used a quantitative approach, with data collected from 159 employees of a public research institution. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with the Partial Least Squares (PLS) technique to examine both direct and mediating relationships among the variables.
The results show that transformational leadership has a significant positive effect on innovative work behavior (β = 0.388; p < 0.05) and on change management (β = 0.541; p < 0.05). Change management also significantly influences innovative work behavior (β = 0.361; p < 0.05) and mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and innovative work behavior. This indicates that transformational leadership, mediated by effective change management, enhances employees’ capacity perform innovative work behavior.
The study contributes to the literature by emphasizing the mediating role of change management in linking transformational leadership and innovative work behavior, an area still underexplored in public sector contexts. Practically, the findings provide guidance for leaders and policymakers to strengthen leadership capacity while institutionalizing change management practices to foster sustainable innovation.