The influence of despotic leadership on innovative behavior in Ho Chi Minh City businesses: The mediating role of leader-member exchange

Anh Tuan Tran, Thinh Thi Thu Duong and Minh Thi Binh Nguyen
Additional contact information
Anh Tuan Tran: Hoa Sen University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Thinh Thi Thu Duong: Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Minh Thi Binh Nguyen: Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE - ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, 2025, vol. 15, issue 4, 162-178

Abstract: This study examines the impact of despotic leadership on employees’ innovative behavior, with a particular focus on the mediating role of leader-member exchange in businesses based in Ho Chi Minh City. Based on the social exchange theory, conservation of resources theory, and leader-member exchange theory, four hypotheses were developed to guide the research. Data was gathered from 308 employees through an online survey using convenience sampling. The analysis was conducted using Smart-PLS 3 with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to explore relationships between variables. The findings reveal that despotic leadership has a negative influence on both leader-member exchange and employees’ innovative behavior, confirming that leader-member exchange serves as a mediator in this relationship. This suggests that fostering positive leader-member exchanges could mitigate the harmful effects of despotic leadership on innovation. The study offers both theoretical and practical implications for promoting innovative practices in businesses. Moreover, it provides valuable insights for leaders in Ho Chi Minh City, aiming to foster a more supportive work environment.

Keywords: despotic leadership; employee innovative behavior; leader-member exchange (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J53 M12 M54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://journalofscience.ou.edu.vn/index.php/econ-en/article/view/3812/2365 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bjw:econen:v:15:y:2025:i:4:p:162-178

DOI: 10.46223/HCMCOUJS.econ.en.15.4.3812.2025

Access Statistics for this article

HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE - ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION is currently edited by Nguyen Thuan

More articles in HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE - ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION from HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Vu Tuan Truong ().