Uncovering innovativeness in Spanish tourism firms: The role of transformational leadership, OCB, Firm Size, and age

Innovativeness in the tourism and hospitality sector is essential for competitiveness and survival. Leadership plays a key role in promoting (or hampering) firm innovativeness. This article intended to examine the role of transformational leadership (TL) and organization citizenship behavior (OCB) on Spanish tourism firms' innovativeness (OI). It also investigated whether firm size and age moderate the relationship between TL, OI, and OCB. The cross-sectional survey method was used to collect data from 329 middle-level managers in Spanish tourism firms. The findings of the data revealed that TL and OCB have significant impacts on firm innovativeness; also, OCB mediates the relationship between TL and firm innovativeness. Firm size and age moderate the relationship between TL and firm innovativeness; also, firm size moderates the relationship between TL and OCB. It was found that large firms were more innovative than small ones; also, younger firms showed a higher level of innovativeness than old firms. Managerial and specific firm size and age implications were provided.