NAVIGATING RESEARCH EXCELLENCE IN PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES: THE INTERPLAY OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATIVE WORK BEHAVIOR

Abstract

The management of research productivity in private higher education institutions (PHEIs) remains a critical challenge for academic leaders, particularly in developing nations where institutional support is often limited. This study proposes a strategic framework to enhance research excellence by investigating the nexus between transformational leadership, creative self-efficacy (CSE), and innovative work behavior (IWB). Using a quantitative explanatory design, data were collected from 376 lecturers across private universities under the Higher Education Service Institute (LLDIKTI) Region VII, Indonesia. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-PLS) was employed for hypothesis testing. The findings reveal that transformational leadership serves as a primary driver for both IWB and research performance. Crucially, the results indicate that CSE does not directly translate into research performance but necessitates the full mediation of IWB. Furthermore, IWB acts as a partial mediator in the relationship between transformational leadership and academic outcomes. These findings underscore that university administrators must shift from traditional bureaucratic oversight toward transformational practices that cultivate a dynamic innovation culture. This study contributes to educational management literature by elucidating the mechanism required to convert individual psychological resources into competitive institutional academic capital.