Title: Impact of inclusive leadership on project success: the mediating role of work engagement and person-job fit

Authors: Mohamed Fitouri

Addresses: Faculty of Economics and Management of Mahdia (FSEG Mahdia), University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of inclusive leadership on project success, with a focus on the mediating roles of work engagement and person-job fit. Data from 300 project team members in Tunisia (from 350 distributed questionnaires, yielding an 85.7%response rate) were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) to explore these relationships. Results show that inclusive leadership significantly improves project success by increasing team engagement and enhancing person-job fit. The study highlights the importance of inclusive leadership in fostering an environment that aligns individual skills with project needs, ultimately boosting performance. These findings offer practical insights for leaders to enhance project outcomes in diverse organisational contexts.

Keywords: inclusive leadership; project success; work engagement; person-job fit; structural equation modelling; SEM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2026.154461

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 2026 Vol.18 No.2, pp.232 - 258

Received: 20 Feb 2025
Accepted: 30 Jan 2026
Published online: 29 Jun 2026 *

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