Exploring The Impact of Platform Leadership on Innovative Behavior: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed Method

Abstract

Platform leadership is a new leadership model characterized by "empowerment," "growth," and equal sharing. As the Chinese economy transitions to innovation-driven high-quality development, the innovative capabilities of employees directly impact the long-term development of companies. It is worth further exploring how Platform leadership influences employee innovation behavior and capability. This study adopts a mixed research method, starting with quantitative analysis followed by qualitative analysis.Drawing upon social exchange theory, social learning theory, and the ability-motivation-opportunity theory, this study introduces organizational learning, knowledge sharing, coworker support, and psychological empowerment as mediating variables, constructing a multiple mediation model of Platform leadership's influence on innovation behavior. Study One analyzes the questionnaires of 550 employees using a structural equation model and verifies the multiple mediating effects of the model using bootstrap. Study Two conducts semi-structured interviews with 24 employees, and through data mining analysis using tools like Python and the open-source tool "Weiciyun," explores the underlying mechanisms between Platform leadership and innovation behavior. Finally, the conclusions from Study One and Study Two are compared. Platform leadership has a positive and significant influence on organizational learning, knowledge sharing, coworker support, and psychological empowerment. Organizational learning, knowledge sharing, and psychological empowerment have a positive and significant influence on innovation behavior. Platform leadership influences innovation behavior through organizational learning, knowledge sharing, and psychological empowerment, with organizational learning having the greatest mediating effect. The mediating effect of coworker support and the influencing mechanism between platform leadership and innovation behavior require further research and verification.