Intellectual Stimulation and Its Effect on Organizational Innovation among Pharmaceutical Companies in Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examined intellectual stimulation and its effect on organizational innovation among selected pharmaceutical companies in Kwara State, Nigeria. Specifically, it examined the effect of intellectual stimulation on product innovation and assessed the extent to which intellectual stimulation affects process innovation among pharmaceutical organizations in the state. A survey research design was adopted, using a population of 1,113 and a sample of 286 staff members drawn from three selected pharmaceutical companies. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire, resulting in a 95.5% response rate, and were analyzed using PLS-SEM with SmartPLS. Reliability was assessed using composite reliability, while construct validity was evaluated through convergent validity (AVE > 0.50) and discriminant validity (HTMT < 0.90). Findings established statistically significant effects of empathy and mentoring on product innovation respectively (β = 0.212, t = 3.588, p = 0.000 < 0.05; β = 0.232, t = 3.443, p = 0.001 < 0.05). Findings also established statistically significant effects of mentoring and empathy on process innovation respectively (β = 0.203, t = 3.006, p = 0.005 < 0.05; β = 0.142, t = 1.895, p = 0.048 < 0.05). Based on the findings, the study concluded that intellectual stimulation through empathetic leadership and mentoring is effective for enhancing both product and process innovation. The study recommended structured mentoring programmes, adoption of empathetic leadership, and periodic innovation audits for sustainable organizational innovation.