Knowledge-Oriented Leadership And Change Management: Examining The Roles Of Knowledge Management Behaviours And Innovation Culture

Change is an inherent aspect of organizational life; however, research has not fully explored the constructive leadership styles that promote effective change management within organizations. This empirical study examines the relationship between knowledge-oriented leadership and change management, focusing on the mediating roles of innovation culture and knowledge management behaviours. Cross-sectional data were obtained from 214 healthcare professionals employed in public healthcare organizations in Delta State, Nigeria. The partial least squares (PLS) method was used to analyze the data and test four hypotheses. Findings indicate that knowledge-oriented leadership has a positive influence on change management, and this effect is fully mediated by innovation culture and knowledge management behaviours, both independently and sequentially. These findings underscore the significance of knowledge-oriented leadership in managing change through the development of an innovation culture and the promotion knowledge management behaviours. This study contributes to the leadership and public sector management literature by presenting empirical evidence of the direct and indirect outcomes of knowledge-oriented leadership. Additionally, it provides practical guidance by illustrating effective strategies for managing change within public healthcare organizations.