Empowering Saudi Academia: Exploring the Role of Entrepreneurial Leadership in Enhancing Faculty Performance through Psychological Empowerment and Team Creativity

الملخص

The research aims to explore the role of entrepreneurial leadership in influencing the performance of faculty members in universities of Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the mediating roles of psychological empowerment and team creativity. Based on social exchange theory, the study provides a theoretical framework to comprehend how entrepreneurial leadership creates reciprocal interactions that raise faculty member’s individual and group performance. The research study aligns with the strategic goals of Vision 2030, which underline the importance of education sector reforms, the promotion of creative and innovative practices, and enhancing human capital. The study supports national efforts to build a competitive knowledge-based economy while positioning Saudi universities as centers of academic excellence and innovation. The study utilized a cross-sectional quantitative research design and conducted an online survey of faculty members from the universities of Saudi Arabia. Three hundred twenty-two responses were collected using Google Forms and the snowball sampling technique. SPSS-28 and SmartPLS4 analyzed the data to test hypotheses. Reliability was measured using Cronbach Alpha, and validity was assessed through AVE. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling were utilized to test hypotheses. The results of the structural equation model revealed that entrepreneurial leadership significantly influences faculty performance both directly and indirectly through psychological empowerment and team creativity. The study extends social exchange theory by demonstrating how entrepreneurial leadership facilitates beneficial exchanges that enhance psychological empowerment and team creativity, both of which are facilitators of faculty performance. Study stated that psychological empowerment increase motivation, and creative teams can drive academic excellence.