Interplay among collaborative culture, empowerment leadership, and IT work environment in the public sector: A mixed methods study

Abstract

The evolving dynamics within public sector organizations necessitate an understanding of how collaborative culture, empowerment leadership, and IT work environments influence job performance, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating This study utilizes Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze quantitative data from 3825 South Korean public servants and integrates qualitative insights from interviews with 12 public servants. Quantitative findings indicate that collaborative culture significantly boosts job performance and organizational commitment. Empowerment leadership positively affects both job performance and organizational commitment, with enhanced effects in flexible settings such as smart work centers and telecommuting arrangements. The role of the IT work environment as a moderator reveals that its effective alignment with organizational culture and leadership practices is crucial for maximizing employee outcomes. Moreover, job performance and organizational commitment significantly impact job satisfaction, irrespective of the IT environment. These findings suggest practical strategies for public sector administrators to enhance organizational effectiveness by fostering a collaborative culture, supporting empowerment leadership, and strategically integrating IT to improve employee performance, commitment, and satisfaction.