Role of Transformational Leadership Style of Accounting Professionals towards Subordinates Performance, OCB, and Innovation: Mediating Effect of Integrity and Thriving

Abstract

This study aims to examine the role of the transformational leadership (TL) style of accounting professionals towards subordinates’ performance, organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB), and innovation with the mediating role of integrity and thriving at the workplace in Karachi. A clustered sample of 471 accounting professionals has participated in the research based on the nonprobability convenience sampling method. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was developed as a data collection instrument while the survey method was used to collect responses from the sample population. PLS-SEM has been employed in the study for data analysis using Smart PLS. The results demonstrate that integrity has a positive effect on performance, OCB has a negative but insignificant effect on performance whereas TL has a positive effect on integrity, integrity at the workplace (IWB), and thriving at the workplace. As far as mediation effects are concerned, it was found that TL has a positive effect on IWB with the mediation of thriving at the workplace, has a positive but insignificant effect on OCB with the mediation of thriving at the workplace, has a positive effect on performance with the mediation of integrity, has a positive but insignificant effect on performance with the sequential mediation of thriving at workplace and OCB, and has a positive effect on performance with the mediation of thriving at the workplace. Furthermore, thriving at the workplace has a positive effect on IWB and performance, and has a positive but insignificant effect on OCB as well as has a positive but insignificant relationship with the mediation of OCB and TL. The study findings propose that the managers should focus on developing a conducive network to help the organization strive. Moreover, the focus should be driven towards employees’ learning to share their views with fellow auditors whereas the controllers should discuss the intended primary purposes and nature of organizational financial targets.