THE ROLE OF DIGITAL LEADERSHIP IN SHAPING EMPLOYEES’ DIGITAL MINDSET, AGILITY, AND ADAPTIVE PERFORMANCE IN HOTEL ENTERPRISES
TL;DR
Mediation analysis indicates that digital mindset and digital agility partially mediate the relationship between digital leadership and adaptive performance, suggesting that digital leaders enhance employee adaptability not only directly but also by cultivating cognitive openness to digital technologies and the capability to respond quickly to technological change.
Abstract
The rapid digital transformation of the hospitality industry has intensified the need for leadership approaches that foster employees’ adaptability and digital capabilities. In digitally intensive hotel environments, employees must continuously adjust their behaviors, adopt new technologies, and respond to evolving service demands. Drawing on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), this study examines how digital leadership influences employees’ adaptive performance by shaping two key mechanisms: digital mindset and digital agility. Specifically, the study aims to investigate the direct effects of digital leadership on adaptive performance, digital mindset, and digital agility, as well as the mediating roles of digital mindset and digital agility in the relationship between digital leadership and adaptive performance. Data were collected from 428 full-time employees working in five-star hotels in Egypt. The study employed a structured questionnaire using previously validated measurement scales. The proposed research model was tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with WarpPLS software to evaluate both measurement and structural relationships among the constructs. The findings reveal that digital leadership has significant positive effects on employees’ adaptive performance, digital mindset, and digital agility. Furthermore, both digital mindset and digital agility positively influence adaptive performance. Mediation analysis indicates that digital mindset and digital agility partially mediate the relationship between digital leadership and adaptive performance, suggesting that digital leaders enhance employee adaptability not only directly but also by cultivating cognitive openness to digital technologies and the capability to respond quickly to technological change. These findings highlight the critical role of digital leadership in developing a digitally agile workforce capable of sustaining performance in rapidly evolving hospitality environments.
