The mediating influence of innovative work behavior on the relationship between strategic leadership and job performance: A study in network organizations-automotive dealers in Türkiye

The automotive industry is a dynamic environment with high competition in a complex external environment where new vehicle sales, profitability, and sustainable growth are deeply affected and where uncertainty is high. For sustainable growth, it is essential for organizations to be more dynamic and flexible to adapt to the external environment. Companies that develop their core competencies in the automotive sales channel, where the external environment is so volatile, usually stay one step ahead of the competition. The study aims to understand the outputs of strategic leadership in the authorized automotive dealership network by focusing on strategic leadership, innovative work behavior, and job performance. In addition, the model was developed with the assumption that innovative work behavior plays a mediating role in the relationship between strategic leadership and job performance. To investigate this relationship, a questionnaire made via Google form was sent to the automotive authorized dealers' sales network across Türkiye with the support of automotive professionals. With this support, 536 people responded. The results were analysed with statistical tools such as SPSS and Smart PLS and statistical methods; reliability and factor analysis, validity tests, and regression analysis were made. The result of this analysis showed that strategic leadership is a type of leadership that directly affects the job performance levels of employees in the automotive industry. In addition, it has been revealed that innovative work behavior is positively affected by strategic leadership, and as a result, it provides positive job performance.