Digital Leadership, Knowledge Sharing, and Innovation in Organizations: Evidence from South Korea as a Developed Economy

Abstract

In this era, digital leadership (DL) plays a crucial role in incorporating up-to-date knowledge through collecting and sharing valuable information to gain competitive advantages. This study focuses on how DL contributes to organizational innovation (OI) and the mediating role of knowledge sharing (KS) in a developed country. To fulfill the purposes of this study, 243 samples were collected from various organizations in Korea through an online survey. Data analysis and hypotheses were tested using SPSS and the AMOS package, based on the knowledge-based and resource-based views. Findings depicted that DL has a significant effect on innovation, while KS partially mediates the interconnection between DL and OI. Additionally, the second order or subdivision of KS, e.g., knowledge collection and donation, has no significant mediation effect between DL and innovation. This study added value to the research arena by supporting the positive role of DL in KS and innovation in South Korea. Theoretically and practically, the KS behavior of digital leaders affects the enhancement of resources, such as innovation, in the South Korean economy.