The Effect of Transformational Leadership on Individual Readiness to Change: The Mediating Roles of Work Engagement and Organizational Justice (A Study of UAE Construction Industry)

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relationship between transformational leadership and individual readiness to change along with the mediators of organizational justice and work engagement in the construction industry of the UAE. The research applies quantitative analysis via PLS-SEM to determine the structural relationships among study constructs. The sample size consisted of 813 respondents from seven emirates. The proportion of respondents from each emirate in the sample is based on their relative representation in the UAE construction sector. The findings of the structural model indicate a statistically significant effect of transformational leadership on individual readiness to change. Moreover, the two mediating effects of work engagement and organizational justice are statistically significant. Further research may incorporate the role of moderators like culture to investigate the interaction effect of culture and transformational leadership on individual readiness to change. This study will help construction managers and policymakers shift to transformational leadership to make change eminent in the organizational structure.