Driving workplace alignment and adaptability in Jordanian service industry: A cultural examination of managerial influence and staff engagement
-
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.23(2).2025.62
-
Article InfoVolume 23 2025, Issue #2, pp. 848-861
- 41 Views
-
18 Downloads
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This study aims to examine the impact of transformational leadership on employees’ emotional commitment to organizational change and their intention to support change while evaluating the mediating role of innovative behavior. The analysis was conducted in the Jordanian tourism and hospitality sector between January and February 2025. A structured questionnaire was distributed to employees working in hotels, travel agencies, and tourist attractions across various regions of the country. Stratified random sampling ensured balanced representation by organization type and location. Out of 300 distributed questionnaires, 230 valid responses were collected, yielding a response rate of 76.7%. Participants had at least one year of experience and prior exposure to organizational change efforts, such as digital transformation or environmental sustainability programs. Relationships among the constructs were analyzed using structural equation modeling.
The findings show that transformational leadership significantly influences emotional commitment to change (standardized coefficient = 0.65, significance level = 0.001), intention to support change (standardized coefficient = 0.58, significance level = 0.003), and innovative behavior (standardized coefficient = 0.62, significance level = 0.002). Innovative behavior partially mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and both emotional commitment (indirect effect = 0.25) and support for change (indirect effect = 0.21). These results indicate that transformational leadership enhances employee adaptability when supported by creativity and psychological safety. The study concludes that culturally aligned leadership practices promoting innovation and trust are essential for improving organizational resilience and managing change in high-context service environments.
- Keywords
-
JEL Classification (Paper profile tab)M12, L83, O31
-
References70
-
Tables9
-
Figures0
-
- Table 1. Sample demographics
- Table 2. Survey structure and measures
- Table 3. Data analysis procedures
- Table 4. Descriptive statistics
- Table 5. Reliability analysis
- Table 6. Validity analysis
- Table 7. Measurement model validation – CFA results
- Table 8. Structural equation modeling (SEM) – Hypotheses testing results
- Table 9. Mediation analysis – Bootstrapping results
-
- Aburamadan, R., Trillo, C., Udeaja, C., Moustaka, A., Awuah, K. G., & Makore, B. C. (2021). Heritage conservation and digital technologies in Jordan. Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, 22, Article e00197.
- Ahmed, A. K., Nahar, H. M., & Manajrah, M. M. N. (2023). Effect of social media on shaping the agenda of the communicator in the Jordanian TV channels. Middle East Journal of Communication Sciences, 3(2), Article 3.
- Alateeg, S., & Alhammadi, A. (2024). The impact of organizational culture on organizational innovation with mediation role of strategic leadership in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Statistics Applications & Probability, 13(2), 843-858.
- Almashayekhi, A. (2024). A cross-cultural longitudinal analysis of the effect of corporate social performance on corporate financial performance: An Asian perspective. Journal of Asia Business Studies.
- Al-Muntasir, M. (2022). The phenomenon of information flow from traditional and new media about the Corona pandemic from the perspective of newly graduated media professionals in Yemen. Middle East Journal of Communication Sciences, 2(2), Article 1.
- Alqhaiwi, Z. O., Bednall, T., & Kyndt, E. (2023). Excellence in leadership in the Arab world: Islamic principles and tribal values. Evidence from Jordan. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 23(3), 613-634.
- Alsharif, N. Z., Khanfar, N. M., Brennan, L. F., Chahine, E. B., Al-Ghananeem, A. M., Retallick, J., Schaalan, M., & Sarhan, N. (2019). Cultural sensitivity and global pharmacy engagement in the Arab world. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 83(4).
- Al-Shboul, M. A. (2024). On the nexus between code of business ethics, human resource supply chain management and corporate culture: Evidence from MENA countries. Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, 22(1), 174-203.
- Alwali, J., & Alwali, W. (2025). Transformational leadership and moral norms: Green human resource management and behaviour. Management Decision, 63(5), 1417-1442.
- Amoa-Gyarteng, K., & Dhliwayo, S. (2024). Globalization, entrepreneurial development and unemployment: A mediation analysis in the context of South Africa. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 31(2), 272-297.
- Amory, J., Wille, B., Wiernik, B. M., & Dupré, S. (2024). Ethical leadership on the rise? A cross-temporal and cross-cultural meta-analysis of its means, variability, and relationships with follower outcomes across 15 years. Journal of Business Ethics, 194(2), 455-483.
- Ashal, N., & Morshed, A. (2024). Balancing data-driven insights and human judgment in supply chain management: The role of business intelligence, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 8(6), Article 3941.
- Azinga, S. A., Obeng, A. F., Ellis, F. Y., & Ansah, M. O. (2023). Assessing the effects of transformational leadership on innovative behavior: The role of affective commitment and psychological capital. Evidence-Based HRM: A Global Forum for Empirical Scholarship, 11(4), 725-745.
- Bankins, S., Ocampo, A. C., Marrone, M., Restubog, S. L. D., & Woo, S. E. (2024). A multilevel review of artificial intelligence in organizations: Implications for organizational behavior research and practice. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 45(2), 159-182.
- Carter, J. C. (2009). Transformational leadership and pastoral leader effectiveness. Pastoral Psychology, 58(3), 261-271.
- Chen, X., & Yu, S. (2023). Synergizing culture and tourism talents: Empowering tourism enterprises for success. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 15(3), 12439-12471.
- Ciasullo, M. V., Calabrese, M., & La Sala, A. (2024). Surfing across industrial revolutions: A resilient sensemaking perspective on innovation. Global Business and Organizational Excellence, 43(2), 27-42.
- De Jong, J. P. J., & den Hartog, D. N. (2010). Measuring innovative work behavior. Creativity and Innovation Management, 19(1), 23-36.
- Devonish, D. (2023). Key recommendations for managing organisational change hesitancy in Caribbean workplaces amid the COVID-19 pandemic: A conceptual paper. In S. Roberts, H. A. F. DeShong, W. C. Grenade, & D. Devonish (Eds.), Interdisciplinary perspectives on COVID-19 and the Caribbean (vol. 1, pp. 351-365). Springer International Publishing.
- Diko, T. K., & Saxena, S. (2023). Mediating role of employee engagement with transformational leadership and turnover intention. Public Organization Review, 23(4), 1639-1660.
- Eduzor, N. C. (2024). Leadership styles and organizational performance: Examining the impact of transformational leadership on employee engagement and business success. International Journal of Development, Sustainability and Environmental Management, 1, 16-24.
- Essex, R., Kennedy, J., Miller, D., & Jameson, J. (2023). A scoping review exploring the impact and negotiation of hierarchy in healthcare organisations. Nursing Inquiry, 30(4), Article e12571.
- Ficapal-Cusí, P., Enache-Zegheru, M., & Torrent-Sellens, J. (2020). Linking perceived organizational support, affective commitment, and knowledge sharing with prosocial organizational behavior of altruism and civic virtue. Sustainability, 12(24).
- Fedor, D. B., Caldwell, S., & Herold, D. M. (2006). The effects of organizational changes on employee commitment: A multilevel investigation. Personnel Psychology, 59(1), 1-29.
- Ghamrawi, N., Shal, T., & Ghamrawi, N. A. R. (2024). Exploring the impact of AI on teacher leadership: Regressing or expanding? Education and Information Technologies, 29(7), 8415-8433.
- Herscovitch, L., & Meyer, J. P. (2002). Commitment to organizational change: Extension of a three-component model. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(3), 474-487.
- Husseini, F., & Malmir, A. (2025). EFL researchers’ conceptualization of creativity in research: A componential model of creativity. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 34(2), 555-563.
- Jadgal, M. S., Karimi, M., Alizadeh-Siuki, H., Salarzehi, F. K., & Zareipour, M. (2024). Determinants of preventive behavior against COVID-19 in secondary school students based on Health Belief Model (HBM): A structural equations modeling (SEM). Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 43(1), Article 96.
- Jandu, K., & Pradhan, R. K. (2025). Inquiring long-term goal achievement and grit in a collectivist culture: A qualitative content analysis. Cogent Psychology, 12(1), Article 2454090.
- Jauhari, H., Kumar, M., & Pandey, J. (2024). Impact of transformational leadership on service delivery behaviours of frontline service employees. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 79, Article 103816.
- Javad, S. (2023). Performance management in the Middle East. In P. Budhwar & V. Pereira (Eds.), Doing business in the Middle East (pp. 176-190). Routledge.
- Jreissat, E. R., Khrais, L. T., Salhab, H., Ali, H., Morshed, A., & Dahbour, S. (2024). An in-depth analysis of consumer preferences, behavior shifts, and barriers impacting IoT adoption: Insights from Jordan’s telecom industry. Applied Mathematics and Information Sciences, 18(2), 271-281.
- Jun, K., & Lee, J. (2023). Transformational leadership and followers’ innovative behavior: Roles of commitment to change and organizational support for creativity. Behavioral Sciences, 13(4).
- Kara, E., Akbaba, M., Yakut, E., Çetinel, M. H., & Pasli, M. M. (2023). The mediating effect of green human resources management on the relationship between organizational sustainability and innovative behavior: An application in Turkey. Sustainability, 15(3).
- Karimi, S., Ahmadi Malek, F., Yaghoubi Farani, A., & Liobikienė, G. (2023). The role of transformational leadership in developing innovative work behaviors: The mediating role of employees’ psychological capital. Sustainability, 15(2).
- Khaw, K. W., Alnoor, A., Al-Abrrow, H., Tiberius, V., Ganesan, Y., & Atshan, N. A. (2023). Reactions towards organizational change: A systematic literature review. Current Psychology, 42(22), 19137-19160.
- Koburtay, T., Abuhussein, T., & Sidani, Y. M. (2023). Women leadership, culture, and Islam: Female voices from Jordan. Journal of Business Ethics, 183(2), 347-363.
- Kundu, A., & Roy, D. D. (2023). How do teachers innovate? Role of efficacy for innovation and school climate perception. Psychology in the Schools, 60(12), 4885-4903.
- Kyambade, M., & Namatovu, A. (2025). Pleasurable emotional states in health-care organizations: The mediation role of employee wellbeing on transformational leadership and job satisfaction. Leadership in Health Services, 38(2), 299-317.
- Lee, H. Y., Beh, W. L., & Lem, K. H. (2023). Forecasting with information extracted from the residuals of ARIMA in financial time series using continuous wavelet transform. International Journal of Business Intelligence and Data Mining, 22(1-2), 70-99.
- Maama, H. (2024). A critical review of leadership styles in higher education institutions: Implications for employee commitment in South Africa. Economics, Management and Sustainability, 9(2), 84-93.
- Madi Odeh, R. B., Obeidat, B. Y., Jaradat, M. O., Masa’deh, R., & Alshurideh, M. T. (2023). The transformational leadership role in achieving organizational resilience through adaptive cultures: The case of Dubai service sector. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 72(2), 440-468.
- Mattila, A. S., Wu, L., & Wang, P. (2025). Closing the gap: Advancing service management in the hospitality and tourism industry amidst the AI revolution. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 62, 237-245.
- McCauley, C. D., & Palus, C. J. (2021). Developing the theory and practice of leadership development: A relational view. The Leadership Quarterly, 32(5), Article 101456.
- Mirza, M. Z., Qaiser, M. I., & Memon, M. A. (2024). High-performance work systems, psychological empowerment and creative process engagement: A componential theory of creativity perspective. Creativity and Innovation Management, 33(2), 166-180.
- Morshed, A. (2024a). Assessing the economic impact of IFRS adoption on financial transparency and growth in the Arab Gulf countries. Economies, 12(8).
- Morshed, A. (2024b). Strategic working capital management in Polish SMEs: Navigating risk and reward for enhanced financial performance. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 21(2), 253-264.
- Morshed, A. (2025). Ethical challenges in designing sustainable business models for responsible consumption and production: Case studies from Jordan. Management & Sustainability: An Arab Review.
- Morshed, A., Ramadan, A., Maali, B., Khrais, L. T., & Baker, A. A. R. (2024). Transforming accounting practices: The impact and challenges of business intelligence integration in invoice processing. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 8(6).
- Niazi, U. I., Nisar, Q. A., Nasir, N., Naz, S., Haider, S., & Khan, W. (2023). Green HRM, green innovation and environmental performance: The role of green transformational leadership and green corporate social responsibility. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(15), 45353-45368.
- Ntalakos, A., Belias, D., & Koustelios, A. (2024). The relationship between leadership styles, organizational culture and group dynamics in the hospitality industry. In V. Katsoni & G. Cassar (Eds.), Recent advancements in tourism business, technology and social sciences (pp. 313-340). Springer Nature Switzerland.
- Nyathi, M., & Kekwaletswe, R. (2023). Realizing employee and organizational performance gains through electronic human resource management use in developing countries. African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 14(1), 121-134.
- Oreqat, A. (2021). The degree of satisfaction of Facebook users about its features, usage motives and achieved gratifications: An applied study on students of the Faculty of Mass Communication at the Middle East University. Middle East Journal of Communication Sciences, 1(1), Article 1.
- Othman, C., & Busari, A. H. (2024). Effect of followership style on organizational commitment: A partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 30(4), 10076-10088.
- Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Moorman, R. H., & Fetter, R. (1990). Transformational leader behaviors and their effects on followers’ trust in leader, satisfaction, and organizational citizenship behaviors. The Leadership Quarterly, 1(2), 107-142.
- Pulido-Martos, M., Gartzia, L., Augusto-Landa, J. M., & Lopez-Zafra, E. (2024). Transformational leadership and emotional intelligence: Allies in the development of organizational affective commitment from a multilevel perspective and time-lagged data. Review of Managerial Science, 18(8), 2229-2253.
- Rehmani, M., Farheen, N., Khokhar, M. N., Khalid, A., Dalain, A. F., & Irshad, H. (2023). How does transformational leadership stimulate employee innovative behavior? A moderated mediation analysis. Sage Open, 13(3).
- Rockstuhl, T., Wu, D., Dulebohn, J. H., Liao, C., & Hoch, J. E. (2023). Cultural congruence or compensation? A meta-analytic test of transformational and transactional leadership effects across cultures. Journal of International Business Studies, 54(3), 476-504.
- Rolls, J. (2024). The transformational leader: The wellspring of the learning organization. In J. Renesch & S. Chawla (Eds.), Learning organizations (pp. 101-110). Productivity Press.
- Schiuma, G., Santarsiero, F., Carlucci, D., & Jarrar, Y. (2024). Transformative leadership competencies for organizational digital transformation. Business Horizons, 67(4), 425-437.
- Schuberth, F., Schamberger, T., & Henseler, J. (2023). More powerful parameter tests? No, rather biased parameter estimates. Some reflections on path analysis with weighted composites. Behavior Research Methods, 56(4), 4205-4215.
- Sestino, A., Kahlawi, A., & De Mauro, A. (2025). Decoding the data economy: A literature review of its impact on business, society and digital transformation. European Journal of Innovation Management, 28(2), 298-323.
- Shiyyab, F. S., & Morshed, A. Q. (2024). The impact of credit risk mitigation on the profits of investment deposits in Islamic banks. In Islamic Finance: New Trends in Law and Regulation (pp. 117-129). Springer.
- Sliwka, A., Klopsch, B., Beigel, J., & Tung, L. (2024). Transformational leadership for deeper learning: Shaping innovative school practices for enhanced learning. Journal of Educational Administration, 62(1), 103-121.
- Sureshchandar, G. S. (2023). Quality 4.0 – A measurement model using the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) approach. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 40(1), 280-303.
- Taqa, S. B. A. (2025). The mediating role of remote communication on the relationship between electronic human resource management practices and organizational performance in Iraqi commercial banks. Middle East Journal of Communication Sciences, 5(1).
- Trillo, C., Aburamadan, R., Mubaideen, S., Salameen, D., & Makore, B. C. N. (2020). Towards a systematic approach to digital technologies for heritage conservation: Insights from Jordan. Preservation, Digital Technology & Culture, 49(4), 121-138.
- Uppathampracha, R., & Liu, G. (2022). Leading for innovation: Self-efficacy and work engagement as sequential mediation relating ethical leadership and innovative work behavior. Behavioral Sciences, 12(8).
- Walther, J.-K., Hecht, M., & Zitzmann, S. (2024). Shrinking small sample problems in multilevel structural equation modeling via regularization of the sample covariance matrix. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 32(1), 46-65.
- Zighan, S., Dwaikat, N. Y., Alkalha, Z., & Abualqumboz, M. (2024). Knowledge management for supply chain resilience in pharmaceutical industry: Evidence from the Middle East region. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 35(4), 1142-1167.