Leading for Innovation: Self-Efficacy and Work Engagement as Sequential Mediation Relating Ethical Leadership and Innovative Work Behavior

The Relationship between Organizational Climate and Teaching Innovation among Preschool Teachers: The Mediating Effect of Teaching Efficacy

Preschool teachers' teaching innovation is an important factor in enhancing teaching quality and improving children's creativity. Based on ecological systems theory and self-determination theory, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between kindergartens' organizational climate and preschool teachers' teaching innovation and the mediating role of teaching efficacy in it. In this study, an online questionnaire was distributed to 2092 preschool teachers from different provinces using an Organizational Climate Scale, Teaching Efficacy Scale, and Teaching Innovation Scale. The study used SPSS 25.0 software and the SPSS PROCESS macro program for data processing. The results showed that there was a positive correlation among kindergartens' organizational climate, teaching efficacy, and teaching innovation, and that kindergartens' organizational climate not only directly and positively predicted teaching innovation, but also indirectly predicted teaching innovation through the mediating role of teaching efficacy. The study explored the internal and external influences on preschool teachers' teaching innovation and revealed their underlying mechanisms, providing theoretical support for research and educational practice on preschool teachers' teaching innovation and children's creativity.

Driving frugal innovation in SMEs: how sustainable leadership, knowledge sources and information credibility make a difference

This study investigates the driving factors behind frugal innovation in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). It specifically examines sustainable leadership as an independent variable, considering its impact on frugal innovation, with sources of knowledge mediating this relationship and information credibility moderating the effects. Employing a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach, data were gathered from 325 employees of SMEs in Pakistan. This methodology was chosen for its ability to handle complex relationships between multiple variables simultaneously, offering robust insights into the interplay among sustainable leadership, sources of knowledge, information credibility, and frugal innovation. The results reveal significant associations between sustainable leadership, sources of knowledge, information credibility, and frugal innovation. Sustainable leadership demonstrates a substantial influence on both sources of knowledge and frugal innovation. Furthermore, sources of knowledge play a vital role in mediating the relationship between sustainable leadership and frugal innovation. Information credibility emerges as a significant moderator, affecting the pathways between sustainable leadership, sources of knowledge, and frugal innovation. The findings underscore the importance of sustainable leadership and credible information sources in driving frugal innovation within SMEs. They highlight the intricate interdependencies among these variables and emphasize the pivotal role of information credibility in shaping these dynamics. These results carry significant implications for SMEs in Pakistan, shedding light on the mechanisms through which sustainable leadership and reliable knowledge sources can stimulate frugal innovation in emerging economies.

Ethical leadership and TMT decision-making of corporate social responsibility - a perspective of self-determination theory

This study examines the impact of ethical leadership on top management team (TMT) decision-making regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR), considering the mediating role of TMT passion and the moderating role of performance stress. The study distinguishes between TMT harmonious and obsessive work passion and categorizes CSR as proactive and reactive. The findings reveal the following: (1) Ethical leadership positively influences proactive CSR, with TMT harmonious work passion acting as a positive mediator and TMT obsessive work passion playing a negative mediating role; (2) ethical leadership positively affects reactive CSR, with both TMT harmonious and obsessive work passion serving as positive mediators; (3) performance stress diminishes the impact of ethical leadership on TMT harmonious work passion; however, it amplifies the effect on TMT obsessive work passion. Consequently, the mediating effect of TMT harmonious work passion weakens, while the mediating effect of TMT obsessive work passion strengthens. This study emphasizes the significant role of TMT in CSR strategic decision-making and proposes a novel mediating mechanism through which ethical leadership drives CSR decision-making by considering TMT work passion. These findings reconcile the theoretical-practical conflict and have important theoretical and practical implications for enterprises in fulfilling their social responsibility.

Simulation as a key training method for inculcating public health leadership skills: a mixed methods study

Background

Successful management of public health challenges requires developing and nurturing leadership competencies. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of training simulations to assess public health leadership and decision-making competencies during emergencies as an effective learning and training method.

Methods

We examined the effects of two simulation scenarios on public health school students in terms of their experience (compared to face-to-face learning) and new skills acquired for dealing with similar emergent situations in the future. A mixed-methods design included developing a validated and pre-tested questionnaire with open-and closed-ended questions that examined the simulation impact and the degree of student satisfaction with the conditions in which it was conducted. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with the students after going through the simulations. The questionnaire results were evaluated using descriptive analytics. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analyses. All data were collected during June 2022.

Results

The questionnaire results indicate that students strengthened their interpersonal communication skills and learned about the importance of listening to the opinions of others before formulating their positions. Four themes emerged from 16 in-depth interviews, according to Kolb's experimental learning cycle. Students emphasized the effectiveness of experiential learning versus traditional classroom learning. The simulation scenarios were felt to realistically convey critical issues regarding leadership, decision-making, and teamwork challenges. They effectively conveyed the importance of building a culture of conducting substantive and respectful discussions.

Conclusion

Simulation is a powerful pedagogical training tool for public health leadership competencies. Simulations were seen to be advantageous over face-to-face learning in imparting a range of leadership skills and hands-on practice. We recommend integrating simulations in all public health leadership training programs.