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Inclusive leadership, ambidextrous innovation and organizational performance: the moderating role of environment uncertainty

Lei Gong (University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China)
Zhiying Liu (School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China)
Yanzhen Rong (University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China)
Lihua Fu (School of Management, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China)

Leadership & Organization Development Journal

ISSN: 0143-7739

Article publication date: 29 April 2021

Issue publication date: 23 June 2021

1936

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore how inclusive leadership promotes organizational performance through ambidextrous innovation (i.e. exploratory and exploitative innovation). Moreover, the authors examine the moderating role of environmental uncertainty in the relationship between inclusive leadership and ambidextrous innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a questionnaire survey of high-tech enterprises in China and obtained 325 useable samples. The hypotheses were tested using latent path analysis and ordinary least squares regression.

Findings

The results indicate that exploratory and exploitative innovations mediate the relationship between inclusive leadership and organizational performance. Moreover, environmental uncertainty positively moderated the relationship between inclusive leadership and exploitative innovation.

Practical implications

Managers should value the critical role of inclusive leadership in promoting exploratory and exploitative innovation, which in turn improves organizational performance. Meanwhile, managers need to pay attention to the risk caused by environmental uncertainty.

Originality/value

This paper extends the influence of inclusive leadership on innovation from the individual level to the organizational level and reveals the influence mechanism of inclusive leadership on organizational performance. In addition, this study supplements the knowledge regarding the boundary conditions under which the influence of inclusive leadership is strengthened or weakened.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding by National Nature Science Foundation of China (Project no. 72072167, 72002203, 71902174 and 72091312).

Citation

Gong, L., Liu, Z., Rong, Y. and Fu, L. (2021), "Inclusive leadership, ambidextrous innovation and organizational performance: the moderating role of environment uncertainty", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 42 No. 5, pp. 783-801. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-06-2020-0253

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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