Harnessing Technological Support: Amplifying Top-Level Empowering Leadership to Drive Innovation

Abstract

This study examines the moderating effect of technological support on the relationship between top executives' empowering leadership and employees' informational support, and how this relationship drives organizational innovation. Using a SEM bootstrapping approach on a large dyadic leader-employee sample, we show that employee informational support fully mediates the effect of empowering leadership on organizational innovation. Our results show that high levels of technological support significantly strengthen this relationship, underscoring the critical role of a robust technological infrastructure in enhancing leadership effectiveness. These findings challenge the "one-size-fits-all" leadership model and highlight the need to align leadership strategies with technological capabilities. By advocating for stronger leadership in virtual work environments, our study provides actionable insights for fostering innovation, in line with HICSS 2025's focus on the interplay between technology and organizational behavior. This research offers valuable contributions to both academia and practice, emphasizing the strategic integration of technology into leadership approaches.