Antecedents of innovative work behaviour in healthcare: does efficacy play a role?

Abstract

PurposeExploring how to enhance innovative work behaviour (IWB) has been the main concern of top managers and researchers, particularly in knowledge-intensive and public organizations. Yet, studies investigating factors that shape innovative behaviour at work are scarce. Focussing on the healthcare setting, the purpose of this paper is to hypothesize a direct relationship between individuals’ perceived creative self-efficacy (CSE), creative collective efficacy (CCE) and IWB.Design/methodology/approachThe research used survey data from 446 clinical managers working in public healthcare organizations in six different Italian regions and a set of previously validated questionnaires to measure the study variables.FindingsFindings suggest that clinical managers’ perceptions of their CSE and their perceived CCE significantly influence their self-reported IWB.Research limitations/implicationsFindings highlight the importance of constructing and developing clinical managers’ efficacy in creativity at both an individual and team level in order to incentivize the emergence of innovation behaviour. Further research is needed to assess the existence of mediating and/or moderating mechanisms underlying the relationships emerging from this study in order to support decision makers in diffusing innovation and creativity in healthcare organizations.Originality/valueThe research adds to the debate on improving IWB by introducing perceived individual and team creative efficacy as determinants of IWB in healthcare organizations. The research is among the first attempts to contribute to healthcare organizations’ management through exploring clinical managers’ characteristics that influence their IWB.