The Mediating Role of Innovation Capability in the Effect of Entrepreneurial Leadership on Organizational Innovation: A Study on Managers and Employees

The concepts of entrepreneurship, innovation, and innovation, emphasized in contemporary studies, are very effective phenomena for organizations to continue their activities in constantly changing competitive environments and be more successful against their competitors. In this context, the purpose of this study is to determine the mediating role of employees' innovation capability in the effect of entrepreneurial leadership on organizational innovation. For this purpose, a model showing the relationships between variables was developed by reviewing the literature. In order to test the model, data were collected through a questionnaire technique on managers and 250 employees at all levels working in an iron and steel industrial enterprise, which is the largest company in its sector in Samsun. These data were subjected to structural equation modeling (path analysis), and the relationships between variables were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS statistical analysis programs. As a result of the data obtained, all hypotheses were accepted, and according to the results of the research, entrepreneurial leadership positively affects organizational innovation, and employees' innovation capability positively affects organizational innovation. In addition, it has been determined that employees' innovation capability has a partial mediating role in the effect of entrepreneurial leadership on organizational innovation.