Inclusive Leadership and Generational Diversity as Drivers of Innovative Work Behavior: A Conceptual Analysis of the Mediating Role of Knowledge Sharing

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-811-5_25How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Generational Diversity; Inclusive Leadership; Innovative Work Behavior; Knowledge Sharing; Social Exchange Theory

Abstract

Organizations progressively depend on employee innovation to sustain competitiveness in rapidly changing business environments. Therefore, understanding the factors that promote innovative work behavior (IWB) has become an important issue in organizational research. This study intends to conceptually examine the relationships among inclusive leadership (IL), generational diversity (GD), knowledge sharing (KS), and IWB using Social Exchange Theory (SET) as the primary conceptual basis. A concept analysis approach was used through a comprehensive review and synthesis of relevant literature to identify key constructs, dimensions, and theoretical linkages among the variables. The results show that IL develops a supportive, psychologically safe work environment characterized by openness, accessibility, and availability, thereby encouraging employees to engage in knowledge-sharing and innovative behaviors. In addition, GD provides a variety of experiences, values, perspectives, and competencies that can become valuable resources for innovation when effectively integrated through knowledge-sharing processes. Knowledge sharing, encompassing knowledge donating, knowledge collecting, and expertise exchange, functions as a crucial mechanism that transforms leadership support and generational differences into innovative outcomes. Based on the conceptual synthesis, this study suggests that IL and GD positively influence IWB both directly and indirectly through KS. The study adds to the literature through integrating these variables into a comprehensive conceptual framework founded in SET and emphasizing the bridging function of KS. The proposed framework delivers a conceptual basis for future empirical studies and practical guidance for organizations trying to enhance innovation in multigenerational workplaces.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Shollahudin
AU  - Kusuma Chandra Kirana
AU  - Syamsul Hadi
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/29
TI  - Inclusive Leadership and Generational Diversity as Drivers of Innovative Work Behavior: A Conceptual Analysis of the Mediating Role of Knowledge Sharing
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Business, Economic, and Social Sustainability (ICOBES 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 303
EP  - 314
SN  - 2352-5428
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-811-5_25
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-811-5_25
ID  - 2026
ER  -