The Mediating Role of Artificial Intelligence Attitude in the Effect of Digital Leadership on Business Performance

Abstract

This study examines the effect of digital leadership on job performance and investigates the mediating role of employees' attitudes towards artificial intelligence in this effect. Based on the assumption that human factors are as determinative as technological infrastructures in digital transformation processes, the conceptual model is constructed within the framework of three basic variables: digital leadership, attitude towards artificial intelligence and job performance. The research was conducted with data collected from 415 individuals working in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in Trabzon province; a structured questionnaire form was used as a data collection tool. The data obtained were analyzed by Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) method through Smart PLS 4.1.1 software. The findings show that digital leadership has a direct and significant effect on job performance. In addition, positive attitudes towards artificial intelligence were found to increase job performance and partially mediate the effect of digital leadership on job performance. These results suggest that the success of digital leadership strategies is shaped not only by technological but also by psychological and behavioral dimensions.

Keywords

• Digital Leadership
• Business Performance
• Artificial Intelligence Attitude
• Digital Transformation

Dijital Liderliğin İş Performansına Etkisinde Yapay Zekâ Tutumunun Aracı Rolü

Öz

Bu çalışma, dijital liderliğin iş performansı üzerindeki etkisini incelemekte ve bu etkide çalışanların yapay zekâya yönelik tutumlarının aracı rolünü araştırmaktadır. Dijital dönüşüm süreçlerinde teknolojik altyapılar kadar insan faktörünün de belirleyici olduğu varsayımından hareketle yapılandırılan çalışmada, kavramsal model üç temel değişken çerçevesinde oluşturulmuştur: dijital liderlik, yapay zekâ tutumu ve iş performansı. Araştırma, Trabzon ilinde faaliyet gösteren küçük ve orta ölçekli işletmelerde (KOBİ) çalışan 415 bireyden toplanan verilerle gerçekleştirilmiş; veri toplama aracı olarak yapılandırılmış anket formu kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen veriler, Smart PLS 4.1.1 programı aracılığıyla Yapısal Eşitlik Modellemesi (PLS-SEM) yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular, dijital liderliğin iş performansı üzerinde doğrudan ve anlamlı bir etkisi olduğunu göstermektedir. Ayrıca, yapay zekâya yönelik olumlu tutumların iş performansını artırdığı ve dijital liderliğin iş performansı üzerindeki etkisinde kısmi aracılık rolü gösterdiği saptanmıştır. Bu sonuçlar, dijital liderlik stratejilerinin başarısının yalnızca teknolojik değil, aynı zamanda psikolojik ve davranışsal boyutlarla da şekillendiğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Dijital Liderlik
• İş Performansı
• Yapay Zekâ Tutumu
• Dijital Dönüşüm

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