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You reap what you sow – abusive leadership impact on organizational digital innovation through knowledge workers' competence and productivity

Muhammad Saleem Sumbal (Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China) (Department of HR and Management, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan)
Umar Farooq Sahibzada (Business School for the Creative Industries, University for the Creative Arts, Epsom, UK) (Asia Australia Business School, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China)
Quba Ahmed (Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China)
Francesco Russo (Department of Economics and Business, University of Catania, Catania, Italy)
Armando Papa (Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy) (School of Business, Gnosis: Mediterranean Institute for Management Science, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus) (HSE University, Moskva, Russian Federation)

European Journal of Innovation Management

ISSN: 1460-1060

Article publication date: 27 September 2024

176

Abstract

Purpose

This research aims to determine how abusive leadership negatively affects knowledge workers' productivity and its potential influence on digital innovation. The present study also explores the mediating role of a knowledge worker’s competence between abusive leadership and knowledge worker productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a quantitative research approach. Data were gathered through purposive sampling using 255 questionnaires completed by IT industry knowledge workers in Pakistan. The data were analyzed using the SMART-PLS 4.0 software.

Findings

The findings demonstrated a negative correlation between abusive leadership and knowledge worker productivity. Additionally, the relationship was partially mediated by knowledge worker competence. Furthermore, the study asserts that knowledge worker productivity has a substantial positive impact on digital innovation.

Originality/value

This study contributes substantially to the existing body of evidence on the productivity of knowledge workers and digital innovation by examining the interlocking effects of abusive leadership. It also implies the interpersonal mechanism of employee competence that connects abusive leadership with the productivity of knowledge workers and digital innovation. Thus, this study is one of the first inquiries to analyze this paradigm.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The article is based on the study funded by the Basic Research Program of the HSE University.

Citation

Sumbal, M.S., Sahibzada, U.F., Ahmed, Q., Russo, F. and Papa, A. (2024), "You reap what you sow – abusive leadership impact on organizational digital innovation through knowledge workers' competence and productivity", European Journal of Innovation Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-01-2024-0031

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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