Knowledge Sharing as a Mediator of Leadership and Organizational Communication Toward Innovation

Kiki Kahfi Abdul Fatah; Nidya Dudija

doi:10.37641/jimkes.v14i1.4787

Authors

Kiki Kahfi Abdul Fatah Universitas Telkom, Indonesia
Nidya Dudija Universitas Telkom, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37641/jimkes.v14i1.4787

Keywords:

Innovation, Knowledge Sharing, Leadership, Organizational Communication

Abstract

The electricity industry faces increasing demands for continuous innovation amid rapid technological advancement and rising customer expectations. Innovative capability is assumed to be influenced not only by leadership and organizational communication but also by the effectiveness of knowledge sharing in facilitating the flow and utilization of organizational knowledge. This study examines the effects of leadership and organizational communication on innovation by incorporating knowledge sharing as a mediating variable. Using a quantitative approach with employee survey data and Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the study evaluates the structural relationships and both direct and indirect effects. The findings indicate that leadership has a significant positive effect on knowledge sharing, and organizational communication also positively influences knowledge sharing. Knowledge sharing significantly enhances innovation, while the direct effects of leadership and communication on innovation are not significant. Mediation analysis confirms that knowledge sharing significantly mediates both the leadership–innovation and communication–innovation relationships. These findings highlight that innovation increases primarily when leadership and communication practices are reinforced through structured knowledge-sharing mechanisms.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Al Harbi, J. A., Alarifi, S., & Mosbah, A. (2019). Transformation leadership and creativity: Effects of employees pyschological empowerment and intrinsic motivation. Personnel Review, 48(5), 1082-1099.

Alqatan, A., Simmou, W., Shehadeh, M., AlReshaid, F., Elmarzouky, M., & Shohaieb, D. (2025). Strategic pathways to corporate sustainability: the roles of transformational leadership, knowledge sharing, and innovation. Sustainability, 17(12), 55-57.

Alves, J. L., Nadae, J. D., & Carvalho, M. M. D. (2022). Knowledge management enablers and barriers: exploring the moderating effect of communication barriers. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 15(7), 1091-1122.

Anugrah, R. J. (2020). Efektivitas penerapan strategi online marketing oleh umkm dalam masa pembatasan sosial berskala besar (PSBB) Corona Viruses Disease 2019 (Covid-19). Jurnal Manajemen Dan Inovasi (MANOVA), 3(2), 122-132.

Arifin, Z., Fontana, A., & Wijanto, S. H. (2016). The determinant factors of technology adoption for improving firm’s performance: An empirical research of Indonesia’s electricity company. Gadjah Mada International Journal of Business, 18(3), 237-261.

Bello, J., Collins, S., Dreischmeier, R., & Libarikian, A. (2020). Innovating from necessity: The business-building imperative in the current crisis. New York: McKinsey Digital.

Blackburn, S., LaBerge, L., O’Toole, C., & Schneider, J. (2020). Digital strategy in a time of crisis. McKinsey Digital, 22(7), 66-77.

Brosseau, D., Ebrahim, S., Handscomb, C., & Thaker, S. (2019). The journey to an agile organization. McKinsey & Company,10(4), 14-27.

Bueno de la Fuente, G., Agustín-Lacruz, C., Fujita, M. S. L., & Terra, A. L. (2023). Knowledge organisation in institutional repositories: a case study on policies and procedures manuals in the Ibero-American environment. The Electronic Library, 41(6), 770-786.

Byukusenge, E., & Munene, J. C. (2017). Knowledge management and business performance: Does innovation matter? Cogent Business & Management, 4(1), 136-144.

Caccamo, M., Pittino, D., & Tell, F. (2023). Boundary objects, knowledge integration, and innovation management: A systematic review of the literature. Technovation, 122(7), 102-115.

Choi, S. B., Kim, K., Ullah, S. E., & Kang, S. W. (2016). How transformational leadership facilitates innovative behavior of Korean workers: Examining mediating and moderating processes. Personnel Review, 45(3), 459-479.

Chughtai, M. S., & Khan, H. S. U. D. (2024). Knowledge oriented leadership and employees’ innovative performance: a moderated mediation model. Current Psychology, 43(4), 3426-3439.

Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. S. (2014). Business research methods (12th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Cristache, N., Croitoru, G., & Florea, N. V. (2025). The influence of knowledge management on innovation and organizational performance. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 10(5), 100-113.

Denison, D., Nieminen, L., & Kotrba, L. (2014). Diagnosing organizational cultures: A conceptual and empirical review of culture effectiveness surveys. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 23(1), 145-161.

Diamantidis, A. D., & Chatzoglou, P. (2019). Factors affecting employee performance: an empirical approach. International journal of productivity and performance management, 68(1), 171-193.

Diana, L. N., & Sudarma, K. (2021). The effect of emotional intelligence and transformational leadership on innovative work behavior with psychological empowerment as a variable mediation. Management Analysis Journal, 10(2), 223-232.

DiBella, J. (2020). The spatial representation of business models for climate adaptation: An approach for business model innovation and adaptation strategies in the private sector. Business Strategy & Development, 3(2), 245-260.

Drucker, P., & Maciariello, J. (2014). Innovation and entrepreneurship. London: Routledge.

Fan, F., Lian, H., & Wang, S. (2020). Can regional collaborative innovation improve innovation efficiency? An empirical study of Chinese cities. Growth and Change, 51(1), 440-463.

Fang, Y., Dai, X., & Zhang, X. (2021). An empirical study of the relationship between inclusive leadership and business model innovation. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 42(3), 480-494.

Ghozali, I. (2021). Partial least squares: konsep, teknik, dan aplikasi menggunakan program SmartPLS 3.2. 9 untuk penelitian empiris. Semarang: Universitas Diponegoro.

Grant, R. M. (1996). Toward a knowledge-based theory of the firm. Strategic Management Journal, 17(2), 109–122.

Hair, J. F. (2014). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). London: Sage Publications.

Hanafy, H. A., Al-Hajla, A. H., & Elsharnouby, M. H. (2025). Empowering leadership and employee innovation: unraveling the roles of psychological empowerment and knowledge sharing. Journal of Humanities and Applied Social Sciences,8(5), 11-16.

Hendrawan, M. R., BM, R. K., & Zauhar, S. (2023). The effect of organizational communication on knowledge sharing and human resource performance in the Indonesian Islamic Student Community Organization. Journal of Information and Knowledge Management (JIKM), 13(1), 18-35.

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the academy of marketing science, 43(1), 115-135.

Kock, N. (2015). Common method bias in PLS-SEM: A full collinearity approach. International Journal of e-Collaboration, 11(4), 1–10.

Kraaijenbrink, J., Spender, J. C., & Groen, A. J. (2010). The resource-based view: A review and assessment of its critiques. Journal of Management, 36(1), 349–372.

Le, P. B., & Le, H. (2022). Communication, knowledge sharing, and innovation. Journal of Knowledge Management, 26(4), 802–821.

Mulyana, M., Assegaff, M., & Wasitowati, W. (2015). Pengaruh knowledge donating dan knowledge collecting terhadap innovation capability kasus pengembangan UKM batik di Provinsi Jawa Tengah-Indonesia. Journal of Technology Management, 14(3), 246-264.

Munte, E. D., Sinaga, S., Tarigan, L. L., Surbakti, A. Y., & Waruwu, O. L. (2025). The influence of knowledge management and innovation capability on small business performance through competitive advantage mechanism. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Kesatuan, 13(2), 1273-1286.

Nonaka, I. (2009). The knowledge-creating company. In The economic impact of knowledge (pp. 175-187). London: Routledge.

Subramaniam, C., Ismail, S., Rani, W. N. M. W. M., & Mahdiyar, A. (2022). Improving project communications management practices in the construction sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Malaysian scenario. Buildings, 12(9), 12-19.

Thekinen, J. D., Pandey, N., Mollaoglu, S., Duva, M., Frank, K., & Zhao, D. (2023). Detecting information bottlenecks in architecture engineering construction projects for integrative project management. Journal of construction engineering and management, 149(12), 231-235.

Wang, C., & Hu, Q. (2020). Knowledge sharing in supply chain networks: Effects of collaborative innovation activities and capability on innovation performance. Technovation, 94(7), 102-110.

Wanto, H., & Hariputra, A. (2022). The dynamics of knowledge sharing, trust, and leadership: mediating paths to competitive advantage in agricultural credit services. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Kesatuan, 7(4), 113-121.

Waykar, Y. A. (2023). Tacit knowledge: Understanding the enigmatic underpinnings of human expertise. International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management (IJSREM), 7(1), 56-57

Ye, P., Liu, L., & Tan, J. (2022). Creative leadership, innovation climate and innovation behaviour: the moderating role of knowledge sharing in management. European Journal of Innovation Management, 25(4), 1092-1114.

Yeboah, A. (2023). Knowledge sharing in organization: A systematic review. Cogent business & management, 10(1), 219-227.