Employees as co-creators of the digital transformation – a Delphi study on the role of HRM and leadership for innovative work behavior

Successfully navigating digital transformation (DT) requires the active participation of employees, particularly through innovative work behavior (IWB). Existing literature highlights the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) practices and leadership behaviors in promoting IWB. However, DT is not only increasing the importance of employee innovation but is also reshaping the HRM practices and leadership behaviors required to support it. Building on the AMO framework, we analyze which HRM practices and leadership behaviors will be most important for fostering employees’ IWB and how these practices and behaviors are expected to change in response to ongoing digital developments. Using a two-stage Delphi study with 27 experts, we identify future HRM and leadership requirements for IWB. The experts predict that fostering IWB during DT will require greater autonomy in learning and improved access to digital technologies (ability), a trusting environment and a positive error culture (motivation), as well as high levels of empowerment and involvement, along with time for experimentation (opportunity). Among the identified practices, training and leaders role model behavior are expected to undergo the most substantial transformation. These findings provide insights into how organizations can adapt HRM and leadership approaches to foster the IWB through which employees become co-creators of DT.