Effects of Leader-Member Exchange on Employees' Creative Behaviour in Ghana’s Telecommunication Industry: The Mediating Role of Work Motivation

Abstract

Faced with increasing global competition and fast developing technologies, more emphasis is being placed on employees to develop creative behaviours that helps their firms survive and remain competitive over the long term. The study was embarked upon to investigate the effect of leader member exchange on employee creative behavior. Using this baseline relationship, the study also sought to discover whether work motivation mediates the relationships outlined. A review of existing literature on the concepts of leader-member exchange, work motivation and employee creative behaviour was done. Three hundred and ten (310) questionnaires were administered to employees in the telecommunication industry in Ghana, working in the Greater Accra Region. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), the relationships between the constructs were established. The initial coding and raw data inputting was done with IBM SPSS as well as data cleaning before data was transferred to AMOS for further analysis. Findings established that a positive and statistically significant nexus exist between leader member exchange dimensions and employee creative behaviour. The study also showed that the contribution dimension strongly influences employee creative behavior, followed by professional respect, affect and loyalty. The results showed that work motivation had a partial mediating effect on the nexus between leader member exchange and employee creative behaviour. It is recommended that organisations note the importance of high-quality leader member exchange relationships, with emphasis on the contribution dimension, in creating conducive environments that foster creativity. Work motivation incentives are also important in augmenting employee creative behaviour.