Exploring the Path to Enhance Employee Creativity in Chinese MSMEs: The Influence of Individual and Team Learning Orientation, Transformational Leadership, and Creative Self-Efficacy

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between transformational leadership, learning orientation, creative self-efficacy, and employee creativity in manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in China. A survey involving 742 employees was conducted, and hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was employed to analyze the data. The result showed that transformational leadership has s significantly positive effect on employee creativity. Moreover, both individual and team-level learning orientations are positively related to employee creativity significantly. Creative self-efficacy (CSE) mediates the relationship between transformational leadership, team learning orientation, and individual learning orientation on employee creativity. These findings suggest that transformational leadership, learning orientation, and CSE enhance employee creativity in Chinese MSMEs. We discuss the implications of these findings and offer suggestions for future research.