Investigating the effect of transformational leadership style on promoting employee creativity with the mediating role of knowledge sharing (Case study: Imam Khomeini University of Marine Sciences)

Employees' creativity is a key component for achieving sustainable competitive advantage in today's high-tech organizations. Identifying the influential factors of transformational leadership and knowledge sharing which affect the increasing role of creativity in gaining competitive advantage is very prominent. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of transformational leadership style on promoting employees' creativity with the mediating role of knowledge sharing in Imam Khomeini University of Marine Sciences.

The present study is a descriptive-correlational study in terms of method and applied in terms of purpose. The statistical population is the professors and heads of educational units and faculties, commanders and managers of executive and staff units at Imam Khomeini Naval Academy. The Participants of this study were 103 people who were randomly selected by Morgan table. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and PLS software.

Findings show that transformational leadership has a significant effect on knowledge sharing and creativity of employees. Knowledge sharing also has a significant effect on employees' creativity and the mediating hypothesis of transformational leadership on employees' creativity was confirmed through knowledge sharing.

Officials should create an atmosphere at the university where staff can ensure that effective and innovative proposals are responded to appropriately. Managers and commanders should consider the university's prospects in achieving educational goals and use the opinions and suggestions of staff before making decisions so that by sharing knowledge and experience both the best ideas, the roadmaps and the executive plans of the academy would be specified.