Influence of digital learning orientation and readiness for change on innovative work behaviour: reflections from the higher education sector

Author(s):  
Nimitha Aboobaker ◽  
Zakkariya K.A.

Purpose The paper aims to examine the influence of students’ digital learning orientation on their readiness for change and innovative work behaviour. Elaborations are made on how these concepts can be utilized for strengthening the teaching-learning process in higher education institutions, and help them gain more cutting-edge competencies in areas of learning delivery and learning engagement. Design/methodology/approach The respondents for this descriptive study were drawn through random sampling, from an end-semester student group, who had taken up post-graduate courses in science and technology streams of a prominent science and technology university. Data was collected by administering self-reporting questionnaires. Findings The study revealed that higher digital learning orientation is associated with improved attitude towards change and higher innovative behaviour. With conflicting results in exiting literature, regarding the influence of digital learning orientation on learning outcomes, this study adds to the body of knowledge by testing previously unexplored propositions in a student sample. Originality/value This study is pioneering in conceptualizing and testing the proposed model. The paper emphasizes the role of digital learning orientation, especially in the context of today’s students being referred to as ‘digital natives’. It is thus imperative to understand how the same can be translated into learning outcomes. The results of the study highlights the need for augmenting the role of digital orientation in the teaching-learning process, so as to transform educational institutions sustainable in producing graduates with readiness for change and innovative work behaviour, in the context of an emergent digital economy.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Baafi ◽  
Abraham Ansong ◽  
Kennedy Etse Dogbey ◽  
Nicodemus Osei Owusu

PurposeThis study explores the role of transformational leadership, transactional leadership and resource supply in enhancing innovative work behaviour using the mediation model.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data was gathered from 314 local government staff from the six metropolitan assemblies in Ghana. Structural equation modelling was used for the analysis.FindingsThe results suggest that transformational and transactional leadership behaviours provided an impetus for innovative behaviours. Also, resource supply was found to mediate the relationship between transformational leadership behaviours and innovative work behaviour.Practical implicationsPublic managers can improve the innovative behaviour of public servants by providing resources for innovation, setting up proper reward structures, communicating vision clearly and clarifying performance expectations.Originality/valueThis is the first study to investigate innovative work behaviour within the Ghanaian local government sector and the context of a developing country in Africa. The study extends the literature on innovative work behaviour by exploring the role of leadership and resource supply.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Messmann ◽  
Regina H. Mulder ◽  
Tuire Palonen

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the role of characteristics of vocational education teachers’ personal network at the workplace for determining the resources that enable them to cope with innovation-related demands at work. Design/methodology/approach A survey study with 48 vocational education teachers is carried out. Social network analysis, correlation analysis, and a comparative descriptive analysis of cluster profiles of teachers’ personal network at the workplace are carried out. Findings This study provides evidence for the role of network size as a facilitator of innovative work behaviour (IWB) outside the classroom. However, smaller networks can also support the development of innovations if they contain dense interactions with experienced, innovative professionals. Research limitations/implications This study implies to further investigate the role of network size in relation to the kind of network interactions (e.g. density of interactions and experience of members) in the context of larger and versatile work contexts. Practical implications This study implies that organisations should provide structures, tasks and events (e.g. interdisciplinary work teams and boundary crossing events) that enable employees to build network connections that help them to manage work-related demands. Employees themselves should reflect on their personal interaction preferences, their specific needs for support and the availability of co-workers who can provide this support. Originality/value This study contributes to the discourse on the relationship between professional networks and the development of innovations. Especially, the social work context and its role for IWB have hardly been investigated from a network perspective.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matej Grošelj ◽  
Matej Černe ◽  
Sandra Penger ◽  
Barbara Grah

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the moderating role of psychological empowerment on the relationships between authentic leadership and innovative work behaviour, as well as transformational leadership and innovative work behaviour.Design/methodology/approachWe have applied the mixed-method research on the selected case study. The quantitative field study was conducted on a sample of 126 employees in a multinational technological company. A series of paired sample t-tests were followed by a hierarchical regression analysis to test the hypotheses. The qualitative study consists of a content analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews with four leaders.FindingsThe research provides further confirmation of the positive relationship between leadership and innovative work behaviour. Specifically, the results showed that psychological empowerment moderates the relationship between leadership (authentic as well as transformational leadership) and innovative work behaviour.Originality/valueThis paper contributed to leadership and innovation literature and provided insights in studying the boundary conditions on the relationship between authentic leadership, as well as transformational leadership, in stimulating innovative work behaviour through the moderating role of psychological empowerment. The added value is expanded by introducing the comparison of the two leadership theories.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 145-158
Author(s):  
Jin-Feng Uen ◽  
Rama Krishna Kishore Vandavasi ◽  
Kun Lee ◽  
Prasanthi Yepuru ◽  
Vipin Saini

Purpose This study aims to test the cross-level effects of team job crafting on individual innovative work behaviour (IWB) and the mediating role of team psychological capital (PsyCap). Design/methodology/approach This longitudinal study tested a multilevel design in a sample of 163 employees, clustered into 45 teams. Job crafting and PsyCap were aggregated to the team level to examine the effects of team job crafting Time 1 on individual IWB Time 2. In addition, mediation analysis was tested to determine whether team-level job crafting Time 1 can affect individual IWB Time 2 through team PsyCap Time 2. Findings Results found that team job crafting was positively related to individual IWB, and the relationship was mediated by team PsyCap. Practical implications This study includes implications for adopting job crafting behaviour at the team level to improve individual IWB. Originality/value This cross-level study is the first to verify the effects of team job crafting on individual IWB and team PsyCap as a mediator. This study extends the literature on job crafting by using a multilevel design in the analysis.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyndsey Middleton ◽  
Hazel Hall

PurposeOrganisational culture and leadership, employee skills and aptitudes, access to resources, and training are regularly cited as important determinants of the development of innovative work behaviour (IWB). The purpose of the work reported in this paper was to investigate a further set of possible determinants of the development of IWB: those that are information-related.Design/methodology/approachA mixed methods approach was adopted. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected by questionnaire, interview and focus groups in three large public sector case study organisations in Scotland, Finland and England.FindingsA set of information-related determinants of the development of IWB is evidenced, adding to the list of determinants that are already well documented. Notably workplace information literacy (IL) appears to furnish a bridge between determinants of the development of IWB and workplace learning.Originality/valueThat information-related determinants may be valuable to the development of IWB has not previously merited specific consideration, nor been recognised, in the wider IWB literature. The identification of these determinants in this research should encourage researchers and professionals beyond the domain of information science to pay serious attention to IL. This is particularly important in respect of the role of workplace IL in processes that lead to new knowledge creation and innovation.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0255428
Author(s):  
Zahid Shafait ◽  
Muhammad Asif Khan ◽  
Umar Farooq Sahibzada ◽  
Zdzisław Dacko-Pikiewicz ◽  
József Popp

The purpose of this empirical study is to investigate the effects of Emotional Intelligence (EI) on learning outcomes (social, cognitive, self-growth outcomes and satisfaction with the university experience) of students in Chinese research universities. This study further examines the mediating role of student trust in teachers (emotional and cognitive learning) and learning orientation (commitment to learning) in the relationship between EI and learning outcomes. This intent of this study was to examine the direct effects of learning outcomes on students’ academic efficacy (cognitive skills and standardised tests). This study used a sample frame of 454 students from research universities in China. The relationships were tested through the partial least squares’ structural equation modelling method. The results reveal that EI has a significant impact on learning outcomes. Furthermore, an indirect relation between EI and learning outcomes is established through student trust in teachers and in the learning orientation. The direct relation between learning outcomes and student academic efficacy is also established. There is a lack of studies that investigate the relationship of EI, student trust in teachers, learning orientation, learning outcomes and student academic efficacy. This is one of the initial research studies that not only empirically examine the interface of EI and learning outcomes of students of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) but offers insights into the existing literature by concurrent investigation of the mediating role of student trust in teachers and in the learning orientation in fundamental association, while explaining the association between learning outcomes and students’ better academic efficacy.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoa Thi Nhu Nguyen ◽  
Huong Thi Thien Nguyen ◽  
Anh Thi Lan Truong ◽  
Thao Thi Phuong Nguyen ◽  
Anh Van Nguyen

Purpose This paper aims to explore how entrepreneurial culture (EC) and psychological empowerment (PE) support innovative work behaviour (IWB) of employees in organizations. First, it examines the impact of EC on IWB. It also explores the mediating effect of PE to support the EC – IWB relationship. Accordingly, it suggests a mechanism model to explain the relationship between EC and IWB. Design/methodology/approach This is an empirical research using quantitative methods. Data were collected via both face-to-face and online surveys from 308 employees in Vietnamese enterprises. The partial least squares-based structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was applied to test hypotheses in the research model. Findings Significant R-square values were achieved for both EC – PE and PE – IWB relationships, according to the PLS-SEM. The most interesting finding is the full mediating role of PE in the relationship between EC and IWB. Despite the non-significance in the direct impact of EC on IWB, the role of EC in promoting IWB is important in an indirect way through PE. The significant role of PE in facilitating IWB has been proven. Originality/value This research is one of the initial attempts to empirically build the roadmap from EC, as a typical type of organizational culture, through the mediating effect of PE to improve IWB. This roadmap provides top managers with a hierarchical view that effectively cascading interventions from the organizational level, such as EC, through a significant mediator as PE at the group level, and then down to IWB as a result at the individual level.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhilasha Dixit ◽  
Yogesh Upadhyay

Purpose In the backdrop of job demands-resources model, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of selected job resources (job autonomy and rewards and recognition) and job demands (problem with work) on innovative work behaviour through the mediation of employee engagement in the higher education sector of India. Design/methodology/approach The sample consists of randomly selected 275 teachers from higher education institutions from a city in India. This study used PLS-SEM for data analysis. Findings The results suggest that employee engagement associates closely with innovative work behaviour. Job autonomy, one of the resources, affects innovative work behaviour directly and its effect does not move via employee engagement. Further, reward and recognition does not impact innovative work behaviour directly, rather, its effect moves through employee engagement. Finally, the work suggests that employee engagement mediates between selected job resources and job demands and innovative work behaviour. Research limitations/implications This study can be extended to include more demands and resources which are unique to academic institutions. For example, a transparent career path to all teachers or a high-octane research culture can serve as a boon. Additionally, their interaction effect can also be studied. The present study being a cross-sectional study, at best, offers a snap-shot view of relationship among the variables. Practical implications This study shall help organizations to use job resources and job demands to enhance teachers’ engagement and innovative work behaviour. Specifically, results of this study offer a reason to academic institutions to give more autonomy and rewards to their teachers to eke out innovative work behaviour. Social implications Firstly, this study will have a positive outcome for students who will be the prime beneficiaries of innovative work behaviour of teachers. Secondly, broadly the society and its constituents will get benefited by improvement in research outcomes. Originality/value The outcome of this study proposes that job autonomy and reward and recognition do not connect with employee engagement and innovative work behaviour in a known way.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simple Arora ◽  
Priya Chaudhary ◽  
Reetesh Kr Singh

Purpose The novel coronavirus pandemic is projected to cause an elevation in anxiety levels across the globe. With everything shifting to online mode, the teaching-learning has also gone virtual. This study aims to analyze the impact of novel coronavirus and online education on student’s anxiety and self-efficacy, investigate the role of coping strategies as a moderator between anxiety and self-efficacy. Also, develop and validate an online exam anxiety scale. Design/methodology/approach The data is collected by undertaking a cross-sectional survey of 434 higher education students from various universities. For conceptualization of the construct of online exam anxiety, the principal component analysis is carried out. Thereafter, the conceptual model is validated and tested using confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical regression analysis. Findings The hypothesized model demonstrated good reliability and validity. The results showed that students’ anxiety has an adverse impact on their self-efficacy. Findings indicate that the sample in this study reported more anxiety owing to online examinations in comparison to coronavirus induced anxiety. Also, it was found that the relationship between anxiety and self-efficacy was stronger at low levels of coping strategy whereas it got considerably weakened at high levels of coping strategy. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to students who belong at other levels of education. Further studies can attempt to capture the impact of COVID on student anxiety. This study was restricted to students in the age group of 18–25. The impact of COVID can be studied in a different age group in the future. Practical implications This study offers important implications for educators, practitioners and policymakers working in the education sector. It presents an interesting insight into how the sudden change in pedagogical delivery to online mode is preventing a smooth transition for students and becoming a cause of anxiety. It recommends higher education institutions to develop an innovative and robust approach to promote and address mental health issues among students. It also stresses the need for ensuring that the process of conducting online examinations are streamlined and adequate guidance is given to students. Social implications The study proposes the need for training students and teachers on the application of an blended learning approach and efficient adoption of information and communication technology resources in teaching-learning. Originality/value The current study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by stressing that adaptive-behavioral and emotion-focused coping strategies are significantly helpful in tackling coronavirus related anxiety. It also recommends the need for Higher education institutions to play an active role in strengthening their preparedness strategies for effective management of outbreaks and pandemics.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Upasna A. Agarwal

Purpose This paper aims to test the effects of perception of organizational politics (POPS) on work outcomes–work engagement, innovative work behaviour and turnover intention. Mediating role of work engagement and the moderating role of locus of control (LOC) on perceived organizational politics–outcome (innovative work behaviour and turnover intention) relationship was investigated. Design/methodology/approach Data were gathered from a sample of 302 full-time managerial employees in India. Results suggest that perceived organizational politics is significantly related to intention to quit and innovative work behaviour, and this relationship is partially mediated by work engagement. LOC moderates the organizational politics–work outcomes (work engagement and innovative work behaviour) relationship. Findings The current research demonstrates that availability of a work environment, where there are unfair decisions, nepotism and favoritism, is an impediment to engagement, innovative work behaviour and retention of managers. It behooves of top management therefore focusing on reducing POPS and subsequent deficits in motivation by providing clear feedback regarding which behaviours their organization desires. Research limitations/implications The study focused on POPS as reported by the employees and not on actual political behaviours. As the study did not cover all sectors, the results of this study should be interpreted with caution. Originality/value The study extended the current research stream of perceived organizational politics research to one of the underrepresented developing Asian countries, India. The study also contributes in terms of its sample characteristics. Managerial employees working across different sectors, served as the setting of our empirical study.


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