This study aims to systematically review the literature on the relationship between leadership and innovative work behavior (IWB). Guided by the Scientific Procedures and Rationales for Systematic Literature Reviews (SPAR-4-SLR) framework and the Theory–Context–Methodology (TCM) framework, this study synthesizes leadership approaches, theoretical foundations, contextual patterns and methodological trends to develop an evidence-based future research agenda.
A systematic literature review was conducted using the SPAR-4-SLR framework. A total of 170 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2015 and June 2026 were retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases and analyzed using the TCM framework.
The review shows that leadership–IWB research has expanded considerably, encompassing both established and emerging leadership approaches. The literature converges around relational, motivational, resource and value-based theoretical explanations but remains geographically concentrated, focused on a limited range of industries and methodologically dominated by quantitative, cross-sectional studies using structural equation modeling. Based on these patterns, the review identifies research gaps across the theory, context and methodology dimensions and proposes an evidence-based future research agenda.
The findings provide actionable guidance for managers and organizations to design context-appropriate leadership practices that foster employee innovative work behavior and support innovation-oriented workplaces.
This review advances leadership–IWB scholarship by integrating fragmented theoretical, contextual and methodological evidence into a coherent synthesis and developing an evidence-based future research agenda.
