Knowledge-oriented leadership and project employee performance: the roles of organisational learning capabilities and absorptive capacity

This study aims to examine the link between knowledge-oriented leadership and project employees performance. In addition, the study intends to examine the mediating role of organisational learning capabilities and absorptive capacity as moderator in the moderation mediation model. Information was gathered from 346 project workers and their 27 supervisors in China, employing a convenience sampling methodology. The acquired data was subsequently analysed using the SmartPLS 4 software. Knowledge-oriented leadership has been shown to improve organisational learning capabilities and employees performance. Moreover, the link between knowledge-oriented leadership and employee performance is mediated by organisational learning capabilities. Absorptive capacity moderates the path between knowledge-oriented leadership and organisational learning capabilities and indirectly effect employee performance via organisational learning capabilities. In a project-based environment, having a leader who values acquiring, sharing, and applying knowledge can greatly benefit employee performance. A knowledge-oriented leader recognises the importance of knowledge as an asset that can enhance decision-making, problem-solving, and innovation within the organisation. The study enhances knowledge management literature on knowledge-oriented leadership and provides valuable insights into social learning theory.