Thesis (PH.D.) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Business Administration Department

Includes bibliography (sheets 141-187)

ABSTRACT Derived from servant leadership and situation strength, this study investigates the underlying influence of servant leadership on innovative work behavior (IWB) and employee knowledge sharing behavior (KSB) directly and through the mediating effects of job autonomy by using the autonomous psychological needs of the Self-Determination Theory in the information and communication technology companies in Latvia. In the current study, situations are studied in terms of cultural characteristics by embracing Hofstede's framework that also pertains to Latvian organizations, namely the individualistic dimension. The empirical results are based on data collected from employees working in Latvia's ICT companies, while their immediate managers rated their performance in terms of innovative work behavior. Organizations at which employees and managers participated in the study were members of the Latvian Information and communications technology association (LIKTA). Matching employees with the manager's responses were analyzed to test the hypotheses. Structural equation modeling results showed that besides cultivating an exchange relationship with subordinates in the Latvian ICT sector, the exhibition of servant leadership behavior fosters the increased manifestation of innovative work behavior and knowledge sharing behavior among the organization's employees; which demonstrated that the effect of servant leadership explained by the presence of job autonomy. Furthermore, this study examines job autonomy as the key process through which servant leadership's effects on IWB and KSB are explained in an individualistic country.