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Goal orientation and employee creativity: The mediating role of creative role identity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 January 2015

Wenhao Song ,
Hongyan Yu ,
Yanlong Zhang  and
Wan Jiang
Wenhao Song
Affiliation:
ANTAI College of Economics Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, Shanghai 200052, China
Hongyan Yu
Affiliation:
ANTAI College of Economics Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, Shanghai 200052, China
Yanlong Zhang
Affiliation:
ANTAI College of Economics Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, Shanghai 200052, China
Wan Jiang
Affiliation:
ANTAI College of Economics Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, Shanghai 200052, China
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Abstract

We developed and tested a model of employee creativity based on achievement goal theory and role identity theory. Examining the relationship between the three dimensions of goal orientation and employee creativity, we explored the mediating effect of creative role identity. Data were collected from 197 employees and their supervisors from several industries in China. The results indicated that employee learning orientation was positively related to employee creativity, but that no such positive relationship existed between approach performance orientation and employee creativity. Interestingly, we found that avoidance performance orientation was positively related to employee creativity. Learning orientation, approach performance orientation and avoidance performance orientation were all found to have significant effects on creative role identity. In turn, creative role identity fully mediated the relationship between learning orientation and employee creativity, and the relationship between avoidance performance orientation and employee creativity. These findings contribute to the advancement of role identity theory, and their theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Keywords

goal orientationlearning orientationperformance orientationcreative role identityemployee creativity
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 21 , Issue 1 , January 2015 , pp. 82 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2015 

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