The DOI matches its Crossref record; 81 of the 84 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Shedding light on followers' innovation implementation behavior: The role of transformational leadership, commitment to change, and climate for initiative
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a deeper understanding of how transformational leadership relates to followers' innovation implementation behavior, the psychological mechanisms of this relationship, and the role of individual perceptions of climate for initiative. Design/methodology/approach: Perceptual data were collected from 198 employees in lower and middle management positions of a multinational automotive corporation. Relationships were tested using hierarchical regression analysis. Findings: Results demonstrate that transformational leadership was strongly related to followers' innovation implementation behavior and that the nature of this relationship was moderated by followers' levels of perceived climate for initiative. Additionally, commitment to change fully mediated the relationship between transformational leadership and followers' innovation implementation behavior. Research limitations/implications: The paper is based on a cross‐sectional design. A causal interpretation requires studies with experimental or longitudinal designs. Practical implications: Companies should invest in transformational leadership training and in the selection of supervisors with this leadership style before initiating the implementation of innovations. Enhancing contextual factors, such as a perceived climate for initiative, should be promoted by integrating them into organizations' reward systems. Originality/value: The paper is one of the first to investigate the relationship between transformational leadership and followers' innovation implementation behavior. It specifies the organizational contexts under which transformational leadership is most likely related to innovation implementation behavior, and those in which such a relationship is unlikely to occur.
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“The limited empirical research in this area supports the presence of a relationship between general leadership ability and implementation of innovative practices (Michaelis, Stegmaier, & Sonntag, 2010), but focuses less on identifying characteristics of leadership across levels.”
From The Roles of System and Organizational Leadership in System-Wide Evidence-Based Intervention Sustainment: A Mixed-Method Study (2016) · cites this paper as Michaelis, Stegmaier, & Sonntag, 2010
In the citing paper
“For example, transformational leadership (i.e., the degree to which a leader can inspire and motivate others; (Bass & Avolio, 1995) may predict employees’ reported use of an innovative practice being implemented in their organization (Michaelis, Stegmaier, & Sonntag, 2009; Michaelis et al., 2010).”
From The Roles of System and Organizational Leadership in System-Wide Evidence-Based Intervention Sustainment: A Mixed-Method Study (2016) · cites this paper as Michaelis et al., 2010
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Talent Retention in Organizations Facing Staff Reductions via Layoffs
Lightfoot, G. E. (2014) · ScholarWorks (Walden University)
innoLEAD©-Gestaltungsfeld 5: relationale Dimension der innovationsfördernden Führung
Kaudela-Baum, S., Holzer, J., & Kocher, P. (2014) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-06526-3_9
InnoLEAD-Gestaltungsfeld 5: Relationale Dimension der innovationsfördernden Führung
Kaudela-Baum, S., Holzer, J., & Kocher, P. (2023) · Uniscope · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-41283-8_9
Leitão, C. F., Gomes, J., dos Santos, D. C., & Maia, B. M. (2023) · Advances in hospitality, tourism and the services industry (AHTSI) book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-6684-7242-2.ch003
Surtiani, A., Panggabean, M. S., & Tanuwijaya, J. (2023) · International Journal Of Humanities Education and Social Sciences (IJHESS) · doi:10.55227/ijhess.v3i3.794
Dopp, A. R., Hunter, S. B., Godley, M. D., González, I., Bongard, M., Han, B., Cantor, J., Hindmarch, G., Lindquist, K. M., Wright, B., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26626372
Dopp, A. R., Hunter, S. B., Godley, M. D., González, I., Bongard, M., Han, B., Cantor, J., Hindmarch, G., Lindquist, K. M., Wright, B., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26626369
Dopp, A. R., Hunter, S. B., Godley, M. D., González, I., Bongard, M., Han, B., Cantor, J., Hindmarch, G., Lindquist, K. M., Wright, B., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26626366
Bhindi, J., & Jangra, R. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5094828
Dopp, A. R., Hunter, S. B., Godley, M. D., González, I., Bongard, M., Han, B., Cantor, J., Hindmarch, G., Lindquist, K. M., Wright, B., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26626360
Dopp, A. R., Hunter, S. B., Godley, M. D., González, I., Bongard, M., Han, B., Cantor, J., Hindmarch, G., Lindquist, K. M., Wright, B., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26626363
Kılıç, M. Y., & Yavuz, M. (2021) · DergiPark (Istanbul University)
Internally-Focused Leader Roles for Managing Innovation: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis
Srivastava, C., & Balachandra, P. (2026) · Journal of the Knowledge Economy · doi:10.1007/s13132-026-03172-7
“Michaelis et al. (2010) also propose that exploring how leadership facilitates innovative behaviors would be an intriguing research direction.”
Dijital Dönüşüm Sürecinde Yenilikçi İş Davranışı: Dönüştürücü Liderliğin Teşvik Edici Rolü
Olcum, G., & NİŞANCI, Z. N. (2025) · Journal of Yaşar University · doi:10.19168/jyasar.1761065
Vilaine, L. (2024) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/3db3870fz71d6z4ed1zb8e8zbef731b8cfa3
InnoLEAD: Relational Dynamics of Innovation Leadership
Kaudela-Baum, S., Holzer, J., & Kocher, P. (2026) · Future of business and finance · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-26180-9_8
Dir, A. L., Batch, B. L., & Aalsma, M. C. (2026) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-026-14973-6
“For example, leadership has the potential to impact collaboration, as leadership is critical in diffusing values across an organization and sustaining organizational practices [44, 53, 54].”
Smith, T. W. (2013) · TopSCHOLAR (Western Kentucky University)
Metadata
- Authors
- Michaelis, B., Stegmaier, R., & Sonntag, K.
- Affiliations
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- Venue
- Journal of Managerial Psychology
- Publisher
- Emerald
- Published
- 2010-05-04
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 408-429
- ISSN
- 0268-3946 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1557448323
- Cited by
- 219
- References
- 84
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 19.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Managerial Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Library Osnabrück University (Hochschule Osnabrück) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Employee Performance and Leadership
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Change and Leadership
- Keywords
- transformational leadership, commitment to change, followers, reward systems, automotive industry, middle managers
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