The optimism-pessimism ratio as predictor of employee creativity: the promise of duality

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arménio Rego ◽  
Miguel Pina e Cunha ◽  
Dálcio Reis Júnior ◽  
Cátia Anastácio ◽  
Moriel Savagnago
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Status ◽  
Single Moment ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Creativity And Innovation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study if the employees’ optimism-pessimism ratio predicts their creativity. Design/methodology/approach In total, 134 employees reported their optimism and pessimism, and the respective supervisors described the employees’ creativity. Findings The relationship between the optimism-pessimism ratio and creativity is curvilinear (inverted U-shaped); beyond a certain level of the optimism-pessimism ratio, the positive relationship between the ratio and creativity weakens, suggesting that the possible positive effects of (high) optimism may be weakened by a very low level of pessimism. Research limitations/implications Being cross-sectional, the study examines neither the causal links between the optimism-pessimism ratio and creativity nor other plausible causal links. The study was carried out at a single moment and did not capture the dynamics that occur over the course of time involving changes in optimism/pessimism and creativity. Future studies may adopt longitudinal or quasi-experimental designs. Practical implications Managers and organizations must consider that, even though positivity promotes creativity, some level of negativity may help positivity to produce creativity. Originality/value This study suggests that scholars who want to study the antecedents of creativity (and innovation) must be cautious in focusing only on the positive or the negative sides of individuals’ characteristics, and rather they must explore the interplay between both poles. Individuals may experience both positive and negative states/traits (Smith et al., 2016), and this both/and approach may impel them to think divergently, to challenge the status quo and to propose “out the box” and useful ideas.

The two faces of envy: perceived opportunity to perform as a moderator of envy manifestation

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 490-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Karim Khan ◽  
Chris M. Bell ◽  
Samina Quratulain
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Life ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Opportunity Structures ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Malicious Envy ◽  
Benign Envy ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate, with a Pakistani sample, the destructive and constructive behavioral intentions associated with benign and malicious envy in the context of perceived opportunity to perform. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted two cross-sectional studies to test the hypotheses. In Study 1, data were obtained from students (n=90), whereas in Study 2, the authors used an executive sample (n=83). Findings The primary motivation of benign envy was to bring oneself up by improving performance on the comparison dimension, whereas the primary motive of malicious envy was to pull the envied other down. The relationship between malicious envy and behavioral “pulling down” intentions of derogating envied other was conditional on perceived opportunity on the comparison dimension. Consistent with a motive to improve self-evaluation, this study also found that perceived opportunity to perform interacted with benign envy to promote performance intentions on an alternative dimension. Furthermore, malicious envy was also associated with self-improving performance intentions on the comparison dimension, conditional upon perceived opportunity to perform. Practical implications Envy, depending on its nature, can become a positive or negative force in organizational life. The pattern of effects for opportunity structure differs from previous findings on control. The negative and positive effects of malicious envy may be managed by attention to opportunity structures. Originality/value This study supports the proposition that benign envy and malicious envy are linguistically and conceptually distinct phenomena, and it is the first to do so in a sample from Pakistan, a non-western and relatively more collectivistic culture. The authors also showed that negative and hostile envy-based behaviors are conditional upon the perceived characteristics of the context.

scholarly journals Job demands when exhausted: the relationship between exhaustion and the perception of job demands mediated by self-undermining

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-50
Author(s):  
Lucia Rațiu ◽  
Ana-Maria Dobre
Keyword(s):  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

There is a large body of literature devoted to factors that shape performance in organizations. Although much of this literature focuses on the relationships between job demands, job resources and performance, Bakker and his colleagues (2014; 2018) have recently drawn attention to self-undermining effects that can add support for a deeper understanding of such a relationship. The following contribution explores self-undermining related to exhaustion at work and its mediating role in the perception of three types of job demands in a sample of employees working in IT companies. More specifically, the paper draws on the concept of self-undermining to reflect on how it activates a loss cycle of job demands and potential negative reactions at work. We argue that (i) exhaustion has an indirect effect on the perception of job demands through self-undermining; and so on referring to each dimension of job demands: (ii) exhaustion has an indirect effect on the perception of workload through self-undermining; (iii) exhaustion has an indirect effect on the emotional load through self-undermining; (iv) exhaustion has an indirect effect on the cognitive load through self-undermining. In order to test the hypotheses, a cross-sectional design was employed. The regression analyses revealed that self-undermining mediated the relationship between exhaustion and the perception of workload meeting our expectations, and a significant indirect effect of exhaustion on the perception of job demands and emotional load. However, there is a need for future studies to generalize the results. Finally, theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Employees’ eldercare demands, strain, and perceived support

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannes Zacher ◽  
Heiko Schulz
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Use Of Self ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Employed Caregivers

Purpose – In many countries, both the number of older people in need of care and the number of employed caregivers of elderly relatives will increase over the next decades. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which perceived organizational, supervisor, and coworker support for eldercare reduce employed caregivers’ strain and weaken the relationship between eldercare demands and strain. Design/methodology/approach – Survey data were collected from 100 employed caregivers from one organization. Findings – Results showed that eldercare demands were positively related to strain, and perceived organizational eldercare support (POES) was negatively related to strain. In addition, high POES weakened the relationship between eldercare demands and strain. Research limitations/implications – The cross-sectional design and use of self-report scales constitute limitations of the study. Practical implications – POES is a resource for employed caregivers, especially when their eldercare demands are high. Originality/value – This research highlights the relative importance of different forms of perceived support for reducing employed caregivers’ strain and weakening the relationship between eldercare demands and strain.

Effects of online advertising on automobile sales

2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 834-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianping Peng ◽  
Guoying Zhang ◽  
Shaoling Zhang ◽  
Xin Dai ◽  
Jing Li
Keyword(s):  
Online Advertising ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Search Advertising ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Advertising Strategies ◽  
Automobile Sales ◽  
Advertising Spending ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Allocation Strategies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of online advertising spending on automobile sales through both search and non-search advertising. Design/methodology/approach – Sales data of the top 52 vehicle models were collected in two consecutive years in China. The advertising spending data of both formats were collected from a leading consulting company and a major search engine company. Then several empirical models were proposed to evaluate the effects of online advertising on automobile sales. Two extended models were further investigated for search advertising. Findings – The results revealed that both formats of online advertising have significantly positive effects on automobile sales. However, excessive spending on non-search advertising does not help sales and a moderate budget is preferred. On the other hand, spending on search advertising has no such constraint to improve the vehicle sales. Practical implications – The empirical findings have proved the importance of online advertising to the automobile companies and thus can help companies improve their decision making in online advertising allocation strategies. Originality/value – This study provides a better understanding of the relationship between online advertising spending and automobile sales, and helps business to define sophisticated online advertising strategies to improve sales performance.

Investigating antecedents of transformational leadership in students

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerri Anne Crowne
Keyword(s):  
Transformational Leadership ◽  
Leadership Skills ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Educators ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Us University ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study investigates the relationships among cultural intelligence (CQ), personality and transformational leadership in a student population. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of CQ on transformational leadership to see if a relationship exists beyond personality. Design/methodology/approach Hypotheses are presented and tested on a sample of 465 undergraduate and graduate students who attended a large northeastern US university. Hierarchical regression was used to conduct the analysis, and multiple models were generated to test the relationships posited. Findings The data showed that CQ affected transformational leadership; however, when examining the subcomponents of CQ, only behavioral CQ had an impact on transformational leadership beyond personality. Research limitations/implications The surveys were self-reported and cross-sectional, so causality could not be determined. Furthermore, the sample, while diverse, was composed of students. However, scholars will find value in this research because it expands the understanding of CQ. Practical implications The findings of this research indicate that behavioral CQ impacts transformational-leadership skills. Thus, business educators should consider how to build skills associated with behavioral CQ in students because of the importance of global transformational-leadership skills in the workplace. Originality/value This research will impact the literature streams of CQ and transformational leadership because it is the first to examine the relationship between the two while controlling for personality.

scholarly journals Antecedents and outcomes of brand love: utilitarian and symbolic brand qualities

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 656-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristela Maia Bairrada ◽  
Filipe Coelho ◽  
Arnaldo Coelho
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Information Processing Model ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Brand Love ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Premium Price ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Brand love is associated with consumer behaviours that are key for organisational performance. However, research on the antecedents of brand love is sparse. The current research draws on the information processing model as well as on the experiential approaches to consumer behaviour to develop a model comprising a novel set of antecedents. Design/methodology/approach To test the research hypotheses, we resort to two samples, which implied the collection of usable 1,018 questionnaires. For hypotheses testing, we resort to structural equation modelling. Findings Both functional constructs as well as more symbolic/emotional ones are positively associated with brand love. In addition, constructs with a more functional nature tend to have an indirect effect on brand love, whereas constructs with a higher level of abstraction tend to mediate the effects of more specific brand qualities. Finally, brand love is related with important outcomes, including loyalty, word of mouth and willingness to pay a premium price. Research/limitations implications This research has a cross-sectional nature. Moreover, we rely on a single informant, but the procedural remedies as well as the statistical tests we conducted suggest that common method variance is not a concern. Practical implications The findings suggest that managers should emphasise both functional as well as emotional/symbolic aspects to strengthen the links between brands and consumers, which will be beneficial for both sides. Originality/value This study is the first to investigate the relationship between a number of symbolic and functional brand aspects and the development of brand love feelings.

scholarly journals Examining the effects of interorganizational learning on performance: a meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 574-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anni Rajala
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Interorganizational Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Research Designs ◽  
Different Types ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Relationship learning is viewed as an important factor in enhancing competitiveness and an important determinant of profitability in relationships. Prior studies have acknowledged the positive effects of interorganizational learning on performance, but the performance measures applied have varied. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between interorganizational learning and different types of performance. The paper also goes beyond direct effects by investigating the moderating effects of different research designs. Design/methodology/approach This paper applies a meta-analytic approach to systematically analyze 21 independent studies (N = 4,618) to reveal the relationship between interorganizational learning and performance. Findings The findings indicate that interorganizational learning is an important predictor of performance, and that the effects of interorganizational learning on performance differ in magnitude under different research conditions. Research limitations/implications The paper focuses on interorganizational learning, and during the data collection, some related topics were excluded from the data search to retain the focus on learning. Practical implications The study evinces the breadth of the field of interorganizational learning and how different research designs affect research results. Moreover, this meta-analysis indicates the need for greater clarity when defining the concepts used in studies and for definitions of the concepts applied in the field of interorganizational learning to be unified. Originality/value This study is the first to meta-analytically synthesize literature on interorganizational learning. It also illuminates new perspectives for future studies within this field.

Role of virtues in the relationship between shame and tendency to plagiarise

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepika Pandoi ◽  
Sanjaya Singh Gaur ◽  
Anup Kumar Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Shame ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Plagiarism is an epidemic for scholars that needs to be managed. Penalties do not seem to be able to stop people from indulging in it. Manipulation of emotions and values may help in discouraging people from plagiarism. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to understand the association between felt emotion and plagiarism outcome behaviours. Another objective of the study is to see the role of virtues in discouraging people from plagiarism. Design/methodology/approach A scenario-based quasi-experimental method is used to collect the data. Graduate students from various Indian universities were invited for the experiment. The partial least square based structural equation modelling is used to test the measurement as well as path model. Findings The authors found that manipulated shame resulted in feelings of both international and external shame. When individuals feel internal shame, they avoid and discontinue plagiarism. They also try to repair the damage that they cause by plagiarism. However, feeling of external shame only encourages individuals to discontinue plagiarism behaviour. Virtues such as influence, competitiveness and equality weaken the relationship between internal shame and plagiarism-related outcome behaviour. At the same time, these virtues do not affect the relationship between external shame and outcome behaviours. Practical implications This study has important implications for the institutions of higher education. The study suggests that universities should provoke the emotion of shame through various communications to students to control the act of plagiarism by their students. Originality/value No study seems to have examined if the manipulation of emotions and values can help reduce the problem of plagiarism. This is an attempt towards bridging this important gap in literature. Therefore, findings of this study are of great value to scholars and content developers.

scholarly journals Attention to ideas! Exploring idea survival in internal crowdsourcing

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fausto Di Vincenzo ◽  
Daniele Mascia ◽  
Jennie Björk ◽  
Mats Magnusson
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Attention Allocation ◽  
Multinational Company ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Elapsed Time ◽  
Systematic Biases ◽  
Creativity And Innovation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper analyzes how the distribution and structure of employees' attention influence idea survival in an organizational internal crowdsourcing session.Design/methodology/approachData from an online internal crowdsourcing session carried out within a multinational company with headquarters in Sweden were used to explore how idea attention influenced idea survival.FindingsOur findings indicate that the positive relationship between attention allocation and idea survival is mediated by idea appreciation, i.e. positive comments and suggestions that employees provide in response to ideas. In addition, we find that competition for attention negatively moderates the relationship between idea attention and positive comments. Finally, our results indicate that ideas are more likely to survive if they are submitted earlier in the crowdsourcing process and when the elapsed time since previously posted ideas in the session is longer.Practical implicationsThis study provides organizers of internal crowdsourcing sessions with new insights about factors influencing idea survival and about potential systematic biases in idea selection due to timing and competition between ideas.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature highlighting the relevance of attention-based theory in the context of crowd-based creativity and innovation management.

A comparative evaluation of manufacturing flexibility adoption in SMEs and large firms in India

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 730-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruchi Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Flexibility ◽  
Large Firms ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Barriers To Adoption ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status ◽  
Plant Level ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse and compare the status of manufacturing flexibility adoption, its barriers and adoption practices in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large firms in India. Design/methodology/approach – Using mixed methods sequential explanatory design, this study employs survey responses from 121 firms, followed by 16 semi-structured interviews to investigate and explain the status of manufacturing flexibility adoption, barriers to adoption and practices adopted to achieve flexibility in SMEs and large firms in India. Findings – The study suggests that awareness of manufacturing flexibility concept in SMEs is considerably low and application of manufacturing flexibility is still at embryonic stage. It was found that both SMEs and large firms employ manufacturing flexibility, but they differ with respect to their emphasis on adoption practices used to achieve flexibility. SMEs emphasize entrepreneurial orientation and flexible human resource practices to achieve flexibility, whereas large firms emphasize practices such as technological capability, sourcing practices and integration practices to achieve flexibility. The study also illustrates barriers that hinder manufacturing flexibility adoption at plant level in India. Research limitations/implications – The study is cross-sectional in nature and is limited to specific regions of India. The use of subjective measures in survey questionnaire is another limitation of the study. Practical implications – Practitioners should consider combinations of adoption practices to achieve the desired level of manufacturing flexibility. It is also important to give due consideration to barriers before considering manufacturing flexibility adoption. Originality/value – The findings contribute to the manufacturing flexibility and SMEs research by providing insights into manufacturing flexibility adoption from the developing economy perspective and by widening the scope of existing research into SMEs.

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