You reap what you sow – abusive leadership impact on organizational digital innovation through knowledge workers' competence and productivity

Purpose This research aims to determine how abusive leadership negatively affects knowledge workers' productivity and its potential influence on digital innovation. The present study also explores the mediating role of a knowledge worker’s competence between abusive leadership and knowledge worker productivity. Design/methodology/approach The study employed a quantitative research approach. Data were gathered through purposive sampling using 255 questionnaires completed by IT industry knowledge workers in Pakistan. The data were analyzed using the SMART-PLS 4.0 software. Findings The findings demonstrated a negative correlation between abusive leadership and knowledge worker productivity. Additionally, the relationship was partially mediated by knowledge worker competence. Furthermore, the study asserts that knowledge worker productivity has a substantial positive impact on digital innovation. Originality/value This study contributes substantially to the existing body of evidence on the productivity of knowledge workers and digital innovation by examining the interlocking effects of abusive leadership. It also implies the interpersonal mechanism of employee competence that connects abusive leadership with the productivity of knowledge workers and digital innovation. Thus, this study is one of the first inquiries to analyze this paradigm.