The relationship between transformational leadership style, innovation capability, management accounting information systems, and performance in Vietnam’s manufacturing firms

Type of the article: Research ArticleAbstractThis study examines the interrelationships among transformational leadership style, innovation capability, management accounting information systems (MAIS) utilization, and firm performance within Vietnam’s manufacturing sector. Survey data were collected from 378 managers at medium and large-sized manufacturing firms, and analyzed by partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings demonstrate that the transformational leadership style has significant positive effects on innovation capability, MAIS utilization, and firm performance. Furthermore, innovation capability positively impacts both MAIS utilization and firm performance, while MAIS utilization directly enhances performance outcomes. Beyond these direct effects, the study also explores multiple mediating mechanisms: transformational leadership style indirectly helps improve firm performance via innovation capability and MAIS utilization, and it fosters MAIS utilization via the mediating influence of innovation capability. Similarly, innovation capability contributes to enhancing firm performance via the effective use of MAIS. These results underscore the strategic roles of leadership, innovation, and accounting information systems in driving and improving firm performance and offer valuable insights for managers aiming to sustain competitive advantage in manufacturing industries.