How ambidextrous leadership enhances employee creativity: a quantitative approach

Purpose Based on the leader-members exchange (LMX) theory, the purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of ambidextrous leadership on employee creativity through ambidextrous behavior. The study also investigates an organizational culture that amplifies the positive influence of ambidextrous leadership on employee creativity. Design/methodology/approach Primary data were collected form 300 permanent employees of the local government department of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Hypotheses were tested by using Hayes PROCESS macro. Findings Results indicated that ambidextrous style of leadership and employee creativity is mediated by ambidextrous behavior of employees. The findings of the study also established the fact that the relationship of ambidextrous leadership and employee creativity is subject to the organizational culture. Research limitations/implications The current study was carried out in the local government department; researchers can conduct research by studying multiple government departments at once. In addition, the present study is cross-sectional; scholars in future can take a longitudinal approach to capture employee creativity at different points of time. Practical implications For establishing a welcoming innovation atmosphere and assist workers' creative behaviors, ambidextrous leadership should be practiced by leaders from day-to-day operations. Leaders must create flexible abilities to adapt internal resources (knowledge and values) in the public sector into new behavioral patterns that encourage employee creativity. Originality/value This is the first study that investigates the ambidextrous behavior as a vital intervening mechanism in the ambidextrous leadership–employee creativity linkage. Further, this study provides first empirical evidence by study the organizational culture as a moderator in determine the impact of ambidextrous leadership on employee creativity.