Empowering leadership and innovative behaviour in the context of the hotel industry: Knowledge sharing as mediator and generational differences as moderator

Abstract

Establishing employee innovative behaviour (IB) is essential to achieve competitive advantage. Thus, in the context of Indonesia’s hotel industry, this study examines generational differences in the relationship between empowering leadership (EL) and IB, with knowledge sharing (KS) as the mediator. Data were collected by distributing questionnaires to hotel employees in Indonesia through purposive sampling. A total of 186 responses were obtained. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was then employed to test each hypothesis. Results demonstrate that all hypotheses were confirmed. EL positively determines KS and IB. In addition, IB was positively determined using KS. This study also confirmed the importance of KS as a mediator in the relationship between EL and IB. Additionally, the results identified generational differences (Gen X and Gen Y) in these relationships. A significant difference was observed in the effect of EL on KS and IB between Gen X and Gen Y. The difference between Gen X and Gen Y was also confirmed in the relationship between KS and IB, and the mediating role of KS in the relationship between EL and IB.