The effect of leadership styles applied in businesses on innovation: An application in Şanlıurfa province

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of leadership styles perceived by employees working in businesses operating in the service sector in Şanlıurfa province on innovation levels. Another purpose of the study is to reveal whether there are significant differences in leadership style perceptions and innovation levels in terms of demographic characteristics (gender, marital status and age) of the participants. The study was designed within the framework of the screening model, one of the quantitative research methods, and the sample group consists of a total of 406 individuals working in the service sector, determined by the convenience sampling method. Data were collected through both online and face-to-face survey methods. The obtained data were analyzed using the SPSS 27 package program. The internal consistency of the scales was tested with Cronbach's Alpha coefficient and it was determined that the measurement tools used were highly reliable. In addition, skewness and kurtosis values ​​were examined in order to evaluate the normality of the data set and it was determined that the data were in compliance with the normal distribution. According to the results of linear regression analysis conducted to answer the basic questions of the research, it was revealed that the leadership styles perceived by the employees, participative and supportive instrumental leadership, had a statistically significant and positive effect on innovation levels. In addition, according to the results of Independent Sample t-test and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) used in the analysis of differences depending on demographic variables, no significant difference was found in leadership style perceptions and innovation levels in terms of gender variable. However, partially significant differences were found in some variables in terms of marital status and age groups.