Unravelling Innovative Work Behaviour ( IWB ) of Female Managers Under Ethical Leadership: Examining the Mediating Mechanisms

ABSTRACT Due to the significance of the women workforce in contemporary organisations, this study aims to examine the relationship between innovative work behaviour (IWB) among female managers and the ethical leadership of their superiors. Furthermore, it attempts to understand the mediating mechanisms in the relationship of ethical leadership with IWB by investigating the roles of knowledge sharing, psychological capital, shared goals and learning orientation. This study applies a quantitative research method. A survey questionnaire was employed to collect the data from 252 female managers. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilised to test the hypotheses of the study. The findings exhibit that ethical leadership has a significant positive effect on the IWB of female managers. Furthermore, the relationship of ethical leadership with IWB is mediated by knowledge sharing, psychological capital, shared goals and learning orientation. This study brings new insights for managers to strengthen the IWB of the women workforce by practising ethical leadership and promoting knowledge sharing, psychological capital, shared goals and learning orientation in the organisation. Appropriate training programmes and interventions may be employed in this regard.