Title: Unveiling inclusive leadership: connecting behaviours and innovation

Authors: Ghulam Muhammad; Abu Bakar A. Hamid; Noor Inayah Ya'akub; Sadia Noor Awan; Shumaila Naz

Addresses: Iqra University, Main Campus, Defence View, Shaheed-e-Millat Road (Ext.) Karachi, Pakistan ' Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur, Block 11, De Centrum City, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ' Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur, Block 11, De Centrum City, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ' Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, 22-E, Block-6, PECHS, Karachi, Pakistan ' Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, 22-E, Block-6, PECHS, Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract: The current study focuses on the role of inclusive organisational behaviour (IOB) and organisational innovation (OI) with the mediating role of innovative employee behaviour (IEB) and the moderating role of inclusive leadership (IL). The data were gathered through a structured five points Likert scale questionnaire from 298 textile companies in Pakistan at three different points of time. The data were analysed using Smart PLS v. 4. The results prove the direct relationship between inclusive organisational behaviour, innovative employee behaviour, and organisational innovation. The results also support another direct relationship between inclusive organisational behaviour and innovative employee behaviour. Similarly, the results confirm the mediating role of IEB between IOB and OI. However, the results did not support the moderating role of inclusive leadership. Few studies have been conducted on the mediating role of IEB and the moderating role of inclusive leadership using the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory in developing countries.

Keywords: inclusive leadership; organisation innovation; inclusive organisational behaviour; IOB; innovative employee behaviour; IEB; Smart PLS; diffusion of innovation; DOI.

DOI: 10.1504/MEJM.2026.153672

Middle East Journal of Management, 2026 Vol.13 No.3, pp.308 - 331

Received: 04 Feb 2025
Accepted: 21 Mar 2025
Published online: 21 May 2026 *

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