What followers are saying about transformational leaders fostering employee innovation via organisational learning, knowledge sharing and social media use in public organisations?

Abstract

This study uses diffusion of innovation theory to determine the relationship between transformational leadership and employee innovation via the mediation of organisational learning and knowledge sharing, as well as to examine the moderating role of social media use. A total of 375 employees and supervisors were recruited via random sampling from 89 municipal committees (one of the tiers of local government organisations) in Pakistan. Results indicate that transformational leadership has a positive impact on organisational learning and knowledge sharing. Similarly, organisational learning and knowledge sharing have a significant impact on employee innovation. Likewise, transformational leadership indirectly influenced employee innovation via organisational learning and knowledge sharing. Surprisingly, the moderating influence of social media use on the relationship between organisational learning and employee innovation proved insignificant. However, social media use had a significant effect on the relationship between knowledge sharing and employee innovation. This study provides informative insights by demonstrating that public sector leaders undertaking the transformational role and encouraging followers to use organisational learning, knowledge sharing and social media can help facilitate employee innovation in the public sector.