Linking transformational leadership and frugal innovation: the mediating role of tacit and explicit knowledge sharing
Journal of Knowledge Management
ISSN: 1367-3270
Article publication date: 21 January 2021
Issue publication date: 9 August 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Given the important role of frugal innovation for firms in the developing and emerging countries, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of transformational leadership (TL) on frugal innovation through the mediating roles of tacit and explicit knowledge sharing.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper used a quantitative research method and structural equation modeling to test the relationship among the latent factors based on a sample of 339 participants from 120 Vietnamese firms.
Findings
Findings reveal the significant impacts of TL on aspects of frugal innovation, namely, frugal functionality, frugal cost and frugal ecosystem. Moreover, the paper highlights the mediating roles of tacit and explicit knowledge sharing (KS) in the relationship between TL and frugal innovation in terms of frugal functionality and frugal cost.
Research limitations/implications
To bring a deeper understanding of the benefits and important role of knowledge resources, future research should investigate the potential mediating mechanisms of knowledge management processes in the relationship between specific leadership styles and frugal innovation.
Practical implications
The paper provides a valuable understanding and novel approach for managers and directors of firms in developing and emerging countries to improve their firms’ frugal innovation capability through leadership practice and knowledge resources.
Originality/value
This study contributes to bridging research gaps in the literature and advances the insights of how TL directly and indirectly fosters frugal innovation via mediating roles of tacit and explicit KS.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research is funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number 502.02–2019.300. This study is also supported by the Chinese Ministry of Education foundation for humanities and social sciences (No.17YJA630041).
Citation
Lei, H., Gui, L. and Le, P.B. (2021), "Linking transformational leadership and frugal innovation: the mediating role of tacit and explicit knowledge sharing", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 25 No. 7, pp. 1832-1852. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-04-2020-0247
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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