The Mediating Role of Intrapreneurial Orientation between Leadership Style, Knowledge Sharing Behaviour and Performance of Malaysian Academic Leaders: A Conceptual Framework

Abstract

Although significant relationships have been documented between the variables of leadership styles, knowledge sharing behaviour and performance, still their relationships remain less studied particularly as they relate to academic leaders' performance. To address this paucity and to explain these linkages further, authors have continued to propose a mediating role in the relationship among these variables. As a result, this paper develops and proposes intrapreneurial orientation as a mediator on the relationships between leadership styles (transformational and transactional), knowledge sharing behaviour, and performance of academic leaders in Malaysian universities. First it argues that transformational and transactional leadership styles and knowledge sharing behaviour should influence intrapreneurial orientation and performance, second, intrapreneurial orientation would also affect performance. Next, it argues that by acting as a mediator, intrapreneurial orientation may act as a conduit that will better explain the relationships amongst these variables.