Personal Leadership Qualities, Organizational Culture and Innovative Behavior in Public Universities in Vietnam

This study investigates the impact of personal leadership qualities, organizational culture, and innovative work behavior in public universities in Vietnam. In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and globalization, innovation has become a critical factor for sustainable socio-economic growth, with public universities playing a central role in this transformation. The research examines how transformational leadership qualities—such as idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration—affect organizational culture and promote innovative behavior among faculty members. A survey of 432 faculty, administrative staff, and leaders from 33 public universities in Ho Chi Minh City was conducted. The findings suggest that leadership qualities positively influence organizational culture, which in turn is associated with higher levels of individual innovative work behavior and colleagues’ innovative work behavior, measured using an adapted and validated peer innovation scale. A culture supportive of creativity, collaboration, and risk-taking is important for fostering innovation. This research provides valuable insights for university leaders, emphasizing the importance of leadership development and creating an innovation-oriented culture to improve academic performance and competitiveness in the evolving higher education landscape.