Responsible leadership and sustainable outcomes: a multi-study perspective of individual ambidexterity and knowledge sharing culture

Based on social information processing, this study investigates the indirect effects of individual ambidexterity on the relationship between responsible leadership and sustainable outcomes (sustainable economic performance, sustainable social performance, and sustainable financial performance). Additionally, we investigate the moderating influence of knowledge-sharing culture on the link between responsible leadership and individual ambidexterity. Furthermore, we also investigated knowledge-sharing culture to moderate the mediation link. Data collected from employees in service sector organisations across two distinct studies (Study 1, n = 241; Study 2, n = 251), were analyzed using Smart PLS 4.0. Our findings substantiate that individual ambidexterity serves as a mediator in the relationship between responsible leadership and outcomes (sustainable economic performance, sustainable social performance, and sustainable financial performance). Further, the study demonstrates that knowledge-sharing culture amplifies the positive association between responsible leadership and individual ambidexterity. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that knowledge-sharing culture amplifies the mediation relationship as well. This study contributes to the existing knowledge on responsible leadership in the hospitality sector by proposing individual ambidexterity as a mechanism through which responsible leadership influences sustainable economic performance, sustainable social performance, and sustainable financial performance.