TY  - EJOU
AU  - Sun, Zhiying 
AU  - Zhao, Guolong 
AU  - Hu, Feng 

TI  - Transformational leadership effects on employee bootleg innovation in the context of digital transformation: Creative self-efficacy mediation and leader-member exchange moderation
T2  - Journal of Psychology in Africa

PY  - 2025
VL  - 35
IS  - 4
SN  - 1815-5626

AB  - This study examined the relationship between transformational leadership and employee bootleg innovation through the mediating role of creative self-efficacy and the moderating role of leader-member exchange (LMX). Data were collected from 279 employees and 56 matched supervisors within a large Chinese digital transformation group. A moderated mediation model analysis found that transformational leadership predicts higher employee bootleg innovation. Creative self-efficacy mediated the positive relationship between transformational leadership and employee bootleg. Additionally, leader-member exchange significantly moderated the relationship between transformational leadership and creative self-efficacy, for a further enhancement of bootleg innovation. These findings underscore the importance of transformative leadership in fostering digital employee innovation. This study provides further evidence of the relevance of self-determination theory in explaining the leadership and employee innovation, relationship within the context of digital transformation. By implication, creative self-efficacy and leader-member exchange are modifiable factors by digital transformation entities seeking a competitive advantage.
KW  - transformational leadership; bootleg innovation; leader-member exchange; digital transformation

DO  - 10.32604/jpa.2025.070126