This paper aims to examine how transformational leadership drives organizational innovation capability (OIC) through the mediating role of individual creativity and the moderating effects of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled job complexity and innovation climate in Vietnamese public educational institutions.
Partial least squares structural equation modeling is employed to analyze data from key employees in public educational institutions across Vietnam.
Transformational leadership significantly enhances OIC, both directly and indirectly through individual creativity. Moreover, AI-enabled job complexity positively moderates the influence of transformational leadership on individual creativity, while innovation climate positively moderates the effect of individual creativity on OIC.
Future studies could investigate how other AI-enabled job characteristics influence the relationship between distinct leadership styles and innovation outcomes across organizational climates.
The findings provide actionable insights for educational leaders and policymakers on how to cultivate innovation by aligning leadership practices with employee creativity and digital transformation initiatives.
This research fills a gap in the literature by revealing how transformational leadership directly and indirectly fosters OIC. It also highlights the roles of AI-enabled job complexity and innovation climate in enhancing leadership effectiveness.
