SCIENCE ARTICLE
Role of transformational leadership in shaping green innovation and organizational citizenship behavior: evidence from the pharmaceutical sector of Pakistan
 
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Leadership and Management Studies, National Defence University Islamabad, Pakistan
 
 
Submission date: 2025-08-13
 
 
Final revision date: 2026-01-23
 
 
Acceptance date: 2026-02-12
 
 
Online publication date: 2026-04-08
 
 
Publication date: 2026-04-07
 
 
Corresponding author
Zubair Nawaz   

Leadership and Management Studies, National Defence University Islamabad, Pakistan
 
 
Management 2026;(1):198-219
 
KEYWORDS
JEL CLASSIFICATION CODES
M10
M12
 
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Research background and purpose:
Pharmaceutical industry has been severely impacted by environmental and economic crisis, and Implementing green innovation within the pharmaceutical sector necessitates the adoption of novel technologies and practices to promote sustainable operations. Innovation allows businesses to stay ahead of the curve by developing new greener market offerings. However, employee involvement in the innovation and creative thinking process is a big challenge. The purpose of this study is to find the impact of green transformational leadership on green innovation and organizational citizenship behavior with the mediating role of green employee involvement.

Design/methodology/approach:
A convenient sampling technique was used to collect the data from 408 respondents in the form of questionnaire, which was distributed online using a 5-point Likert scale. Partial Least Square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed for the assessment of path analysis.

Findings:
The results showed that transformational leadership is strongly associated with green innovation and organizational citizenship behavior. The result also confirmed partial mediating effect of green employee involvement.

Value added and limitations:
the research highlights the mediating role of green employee involvement in the relationship between green transformational leadership and desired outcomes; organizational citizenship behavior and green innovation which contributes in the extent literature. This study employed a cross-sectional design, which may limit the ability to capture changes and variations over time. conducting a longitudinal study instead could yield different outcomes and provide a greater comprehension of the variables that are important.
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