Unlocking the Potential of Innovative Work Behaviour on Academic Staff Performance: Evidence from Malaysian Public Universities

Abstract

In Malaysian universities, academic staff play a crucial and vital role in improving their performance by utilising creative and innovative abilities. Therefore, the primary purpose of this research study was to examine and investigate the impact of innovative work behaviour on academic staff performance in Malaysian research universities. A survey was conducted among 300 business faculty members, who were requested to complete a set of questionnaires to achieve the study's objective. The data collected from the survey were meticulously analysed using two software programmes, namely SPSS 26 and SmartPLS 4. The study's findings revealed a significant positive association between innovative work behaviour and academic staff performance in Malaysian research universities. These research findings not only contribute significantly to the existing literature on innovative work practices among university academics but also offer potential strategies that could enhance academic staff performance levels. Thus, universities in Malaysia are recommended to focus on creating an environment that fosters innovation and encourages academic staff to engage in innovative work behaviour. Such initiatives can significantly impact their performance and contribute to the institution's overall success.