Management Innovation and Middle Managers: The Role of Empowering Leadership, Voice, and Collectivist Orientation

ABSTRACT Exposing under which conditions management innovation diffuses within firms, this study investigates at the individual level mediating influence of middle managers’ voice behavior on relationship between CEOs’ empowering leadership and perceived innovation. We also propose that magnitude depends collectivist orientation. This exploits a unique Moroccan sample small medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) utilizes structural equation modeling to analyze studied relations. found positive is mediated by voice. effect conditioned orientations, positively their attention signals value frequency contributions While research has identified external organizational factors shape innovation, our concentrates accentuates closeness processes, combined with access technical knowledge, renders them essential contradict arguments managers may be less inclined help emerge. SMEs can systematically invest in advancing managerial capabilities considering orientations.