The Assessment of Innovation Leadership Practices: The Case Of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia
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Date
2024-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study assessed innovation leadership practices at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), investigating the extent to which CBE employees perceived their leaders as demonstrating behaviors that encourage innovation. It assessed the prevalence of specific leadership behaviors that are impactful in fostering a culture of innovation and explored key barriers to innovation as perceived by employees. A descriptive research design with a quantitative approach was employed, using a self-administered questionnaire to collect data from 295 employees selected through random sampling from a total population of 1200. The questionnaire included items on leadership styles, innovation leadership behaviors, and perceptions of innovation outcomes. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, means, and standard deviations, in SPSS version 26. Correlation analysis was also conducted to determine the relationships between leadership behaviors and innovation outcomes. The findings suggest that while transactional leadership is prevalent, there is room to enhance transformational and innovation leadership behaviors to foster a more positive organizational climate and higher perception of innovation. Innovation leadership behaviors showed the strongest positive association with innovation outcomes, indicating that these specific behaviors are most effective in promoting innovation within the organization. This study recommends implementing leadership development programs focusing on transformational leadership skills, providing innovation-focused training, establishing recognition and reward systems, fostering a culture that values innovation, and continuously monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of these initiatives. The research enhances existing knowledge by providing insights into the current state of innovation leadership practices at CBE and identifying areas for improvement, with implications for the bank's ability to maintain its competitive edge and continue to serve as a driver of economic growth in Ethiopia.
Keywords: Leadership, Innovation, Innovation Leadership, Leadership styles, Transformational, Transactional