Big Five personality and innovative work behavior: how innovation motivation mediates and task complexity moderates the relationship
Tiening Li, Yishen XinPurpose
Drawing on trait activation theory (TAT) and the componential theory of creativity (CTC), this study examines the relationship between the Big Five personality traits (BFP) and innovative work behavior (IWB). It further investigates the mediating role of innovation motivation and the moderating role of task complexity.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through a multi-wave, multi-source survey, with back-translation ensuring cross-cultural accuracy. A total of 261, 255 and 253 valid responses were obtained across three stages, achieving a 93.36% valid response rate.
Findings
The results indicate that innovation motivation partially mediates the relationship between conscientiousness and IWB, and fully mediates the relationships between extraversion, openness, agreeableness, emotional stability and IWB. Task complexity positively moderates the relationships between conscientiousness, extraversion, openness and innovation motivation. It also moderates the indirect effects of these traits on IWB via innovation motivation, such that the indirect effects are stronger under high task complexity.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations include unaddressed data nesting (no multilevel modeling), inconsistent Likert scales across constructs, along with item parceling in CFA, marginally acceptable internal consistency for one personality dimension, and restricted external validity given the sample's specific cultural organizational context.
Practical implications
Organizations should assess employee personalities and align task complexity with individual traits in job design and innovation management.
Originality/value
This study extends the literature by identifying innovation motivation as the critical mechanism linking the BFP to IWB. Introducing task complexity as a contextual moderator, it unpacks how personality traits shape IWB across varying work contexts.