Amplifying IT Project Success Ratio: the Role of Transformational Leadership, Proactive Behavior, and Psychological Empowerment

Abstract

This research study investigates the transformational leadership (TFL) and IT project success nexus via the proactive behavior of employees. It further investigates the moderating impact of psychological empowerment (PE) in the nexus between TFL and proactive behavior (PB). The study also tested a moderated mediation model of the effect of TFL on IT project success mediated and moderated by PB and PE, respectively. The researcher collected data from 340 IT project experts in Pakistan through the purposive sampling technique. For data analysis, a multi-level method comprising CFA and SEM was applied. The findings indicated that TFL is significantly linked to IT project success. In addition, findings also confirmed the mediating effect of PB in the relationship between TFL and IT project success. Moreover, PE significantly moderates the relationship between TFL and PB. The results also revealed that PE moderates the indirect effect of TFL on IT project success through PB. Through the lens of self-determination theory, this study contributed to the understanding of how employee proactive behavior can play a significant role in successfully completing technology-oriented projects. In sum, the current study suggests that transformational leaders will be in a better position to encourage their employees to complete projects successfully using proactive behavior, provided their followers are psychologically empowered. The study offers valuable insights for both researchers and practitioners.