Leadership for quality and innovation: a cross-cultural meta-analysis

Sustaining a quality advantage while continuously innovating remains a central challenge for organizations operating in turbulent environments. This study advances the literature through a meta-analysis of 82 effect sizes drawn from 47 independent studies (N = 20,589) examining the relationship between leadership for quality (LfQ) and innovation. The findings reveal a strong, positive association between LfQ and all types of innovation, with particularly pronounced associations for administrative and green innovation. Moreover, LfQ is positively associated with both incremental and radical innovation, as well as with innovation capabilities and innovation performance. Meta-regression analysis further demonstrates that national cultural dimensions systematically moderate the LfQ-innovation relationship: power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation strengthen this relationship, whereas individualism weakens it. Collectively, the results position LfQ as a critical organizational capability for reconciling exploitation and exploration, highlighting a culturally contingent pathway through which quality management fosters innovation.