The Impact of Active Management by Exception on Employee Innovative Behavior: The Mediating Role of Instrumental Organizational Support

In today’s dynamic and competitive environment, employee innovation is vital for sustainable organizational growth. While leadership’s impact on innovation is well studied, the proactive role of transactional leadership—specifically, active management by exception (MBEA)—has received limited attention. This study, grounded in social exchange and resource conservation theories, proposes a model exploring how MBEA influences innovative behavior through the mediating role of instrumental organizational support. Based on data from 320 employees, findings show MBEA significantly enhances innovation, with instrumental support partially mediating this effect. The study broadens understanding of leadership-innovation dynamics and underscores the value of proactive transactional leadership in fostering innovation.