The Role Of Transformational Leadership In Promoting Innovative Work Behavior During The Digital Transformation Process

Yıl 2026, Cilt: 21 Sayı: Special Issue on 24th International Business Congress, 248 - 264, 27.03.2026

Gülcan Olçum Selek , Zehra Nuray Nişancı

https://doi.org/10.19168/jyasar.1761065

https://izlik.org/JA78WE95MP

Öz

In today’s competitive business environment, digital transformation has become a critical factor for organizations to achieve sustainable success. In this process, employees' engagement in innovative work behaviors and the role of leaders in fostering these behaviors are essential for the effectiveness of digital transformation. Transformational leadership, as a leadership style that enhances employee motivation and supports innovation, plays a crucial role in this transformation. The primary objective of this study is to examine how transformational leadership influences employees' innovative work behaviors and how this effect contributes to the digital transformation process from a qualitative perspective. The research is designed using a qualitative research method and adopts a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with employees and managers from various sectors who have experienced digital transformation. The collected data were analyzed using content analysis with the MaxQDA qualitative analysis software, and emerging themes were identified. The findings reveal that transformational leadership significantly enhances employees’ innovative work behavior, thereby facilitating the digital transformation process. Specifically, inspirational motivation and intellectual stimulation emerge as key factors encouraging employees to think innovatively and adapt to technological changes. Furthermore, individualized consideration by leaders accelerates employees' adaptation to transformation. The findings highlight the critical role of leadership approaches in digital transformation processes and provide strategic recommendations for organizations to strengthen their innovation strategies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Transformational Leadership , Innovative Work Behavior , Digital Transformation , Leadership Approaches , Organizational Innovation

Etik Beyan

This study is derived from the PhD dissertation entitled “The Mediating Role of Innovative Organizational Culture and Innovative Work Behavior in the Impact of Transformational Leadership on Digital Transformation” and the PhD Thesis Project with the same title, supported by the İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (Project No: 2024-TDR-İİBF-0009).

Destekleyen Kurum

Izmir Katip Çelebi University

Proje Numarası

2024-TDR-İİBF-0009

Teşekkür

This study is derived from the PhD dissertation entitled “The Mediating Role of Innovative Organizational Culture and Innovative Work Behavior in the Impact of Transformational Leadership on Digital Transformation” and the PhD Thesis Project with the same title, supported by the İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (Project No: 2024-TDR-İİBF-0009). We would like to thank the İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit for its support.

Dijital Dönüşüm Sürecinde Yenilikçi İş Davranışı: Dönüştürücü Liderliğin Teşvik Edici Rolü

https://izlik.org/JA78WE95MP

Öz

Günümüz rekabetçi iş ortamında dijital dönüşüm, işletmelerin sürdürülebilir başarı elde edebilmesi için kritik bir unsur haline gelmiştir. Bu süreçte, çalışanların yenilikçi iş davranışları sergilemesi ve liderlerin bu davranışları teşvik etmesi dönüşüm sürecinin etkinliği açısından büyük önem taşımaktadır. Dönüştürücü liderlik, çalışanların motivasyonunu artırarak yenilikçi iş davranışlarını destekleyen bir liderlik tarzı olup, dijital dönüşüm sürecinde kritik bir rol oynamaktadır. Bu araştırmanın temel amacı, işletmelerin dijital dönüşüm sürecinde dönüştürücü liderliğin, çalışanların yenilikçi iş davranışlarına teşvik edilmesinde üstlendiği rolü ortaya çıkarmaktır. Araştırma nitel araştırma yöntemi ile tasarlanmış olup, fenomenolojik yaklaşım benimsenmiştir. Dijital dönüşüm sürecini deneyimlemiş farklı sektörlerden çalışanlar ve yöneticilerle yarı yapılandırılmış mülakatlar gerçekleştirilmiştir. Toplanan veriler, MaxQDA programı kullanılarak içerik analizi yöntemiyle incelenmiş ve temalar oluşturulmuştur. Analiz bulguları, dönüştürücü liderliğin çalışanların yenilikçi iş davranışlarını teşvik ederek dijital dönüşüm sürecine katkı sağladığını ortaya koymaktadır. Özellikle ilham veren motivasyon ve zihinsel uyarım boyutları, çalışanların yenilikçi düşünmelerini ve teknolojiye uyum sağlamalarını destekleyen temel faktörler olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Ayrıca, liderlerin bireyselleştirilmiş ilgisi, çalışanların değişime daha hızlı adapte olmalarını sağlamaktadır. Araştırma, işletmelerin dijital dönüşüm süreçlerinde dönüştürücü liderliğin kritik önemini vurgulamakta ve inovasyon stratejilerini güçlendirmelerine yönelik öneriler sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Dönüştürücü Liderlik , Yenilikçi İş Davranışı , Dijital Dönüşüm , Liderlik Yaklaşımları , Örgütsel Yenilikçilik

Etik Beyan

Bu araştırma, TÜBİTAK Bilim İnsanı Destek Programları Başkanlığı (BİDEB) 2211-Yurt İçi Lisansüstü Burs Programı (2211-A Yurt İçi Genel Doktora Burs Programı) kapsamında desteklenen “Dönüştürücü Liderliğin Dijital Dönüşüme Etkisinde Yenilikçi Örgüt Kültürü ve Yenilikçi İş Davranışının Aracılık Rolü” başlıklı doktora tezinden türetilmiştir. Ayrıca bu araştırma, İzmir Kâtip Çelebi Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinatörlüğü tarafından 2024-TDR-İİBF-0009 numaralı proje kapsamında desteklenmiştir.

Destekleyen Kurum

Izmir Katip Çelebi University

Proje Numarası

2024-TDR-İİBF-0009

Teşekkür

Desteklerinden dolayı TÜBİTAK Bilim İnsanı Destek Programları Başkanlığı (BİDEB) ve İzmir Kâtip Çelebi Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinatörlüğü’ne teşekkürlerimizi sunarız.

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