Examining the effect of functional diversity on organizational team innovation

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gladys Esinu Abiew ◽  
Eugene Okyere-Kwakye ◽  
Florence Yaa Akyia Ellis

Purpose Underpinned by the information processing theory, this study aims to investigate the relationship between functional diversity and team innovation by examining the moderating role of some selected cultural dimensions (power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity-femininity) in the relationship between functional diversity and innovation. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research method was used using a structured questionnaire as a tool to collect data from 251 respondents drawn from research institutions in Ghana. Data was analysed using simple regression and hierarchical multiple regression. In addition, a structural equation model was used to conduct confirmatory factor analyses to examine whether the variables in the hypothesized model for the study captured distinct constructs that the variables were designed to measure. Findings The study revealed that functional diversity was positively related to team innovation. The study also found that functionally diverse groups are more innovative when they exhibit low uncertainty avoidance, femininity and low power distance. Practical implications These findings suggest that practices such as team communication, honesty, respect and trust would foster team unity and commitment, which would enable members to share diverse expertise towards the creation and execution of new ideas and improvement of productivity in the country. Originality/value The study examined the relationship between functional diversity and team innovation by examining the moderating role of some selected cultural dimensions (power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity-femininity) in the relationship between functional diversity and innovation.

Author(s):  
Beatrice A. Dimba ◽  
Robert Rugimbana

Orientation: This article investigates the question, of whether culture really matters in implementing international strategic human resource management (SHRM) practices.Research purpose: Specifically, this study sought to investigate the extent to which employee cultural orientations moderate the link between SHRM practices and firm performance in large foreign manufacturing multinational companies in Kenya. Motivation for the study: Large foreign multinational companies have generally applied SHRM practices without adaptation when trying to improve employee performance even though resource based perspectives argue for the consideration of employees’ cultural orientations. Research design, approach and method: SHRM practices were conceptualised as independent variables measured through distinct practices. Organisational performance as a dependent variable was measured using constructs of image, interpersonal relations, and product quality. Cultural dimensions adopted for this study were power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism or collectivism, and masculinity or femininity. The above conceptual framework was tested by the use of both quantitative and qualitative techniques with data from fifty (50) large foreign multinational companies operating in Kenya. Main findings: Findings indicated that the relationship between SHRM practices and firm performance depend to a greater extent on employee cultural orientations when power distance is considered. Power distance (PD) refers to the extent of people accepting that power in institutions and organisations when distributed unequally. The greater the PD, the greater the acceptance of this inequality. Practical/managerial implications: The study supported the notion that the relationship between SHRM practices and firm performance is moderated by power distance through motivation but not by the other three bipolar dimensions namely, Uncertainty Avoidance, Masculinity or Femininity and Individualism or Collectivism. Contribution/value-add: This is the first large-scale empirical article that has focused on the moderating role of employees’ cultural orientations in large foreign manufacturing companies operating in Kenya.


2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 593-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alisher Tohirovich Dedahanov ◽  
Dohyung Lee ◽  
Jaehoon Rhee ◽  
Sardorbek Yusupov

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between power distance, collectivism and relational silence; the associations between relational silence and stress; and the mediating role of relational silence in the link between power distance, collectivism and stress. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted a survey among 1,153 highly skilled employees using a self-administered questionnaire. The authors received 813 responses from a total of 1,153 individuals. Among the 813 responses, the authors excluded 81 due to incomplete data, and thus analyzed a total of 732 responses. The overall response rate was 63.4 percent. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were utilized for the analyses. Findings – The findings suggest that power distance and collectivism induce relational silence; relational silence increases stress and mediates the associations between power distance, collectivism and stress. Originality/value – The present study is the first to provide empirical evidence of a link between power distance, collectivism and relational silence; the relationship between relational silence and stress; and the role of relational silence in mediating the associations between power distance, collectivism and stress.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rayees Farooq ◽  
Nachiketa Tripathi

Purpose This study aims to investigate the effect of leader-leader exchange (LLX) on knowledge sharing through feedback-seeking behavior. The study also explores the moderating role of power distance. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional data of 290 knowledge workers from manufacturing and service firms in India were taken as a sample of the study. The hypotheses were tested using confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression. Findings The results showed that LLX positively affects knowledge sharing and feedback-seeking behavior mediates the relationship between LLX and knowledge sharing. Moreover, power distance does not moderate the relationship between LLX and knowledge sharing. Originality/value The present study one of its kind explores the relationship between LLX, feedback-seeking behavior, knowledge sharing and power distance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-31
Author(s):  
Andre Honoree ◽  
Mario Krenn

A limitation in the downsizing literature is its lack of attention on how firms’ institutional context interacts with firm’s internal drivers of employee downsizing. This study examines the firm performance - employee downsizing relationship in 1,747 firms across 35 countries over three years and demonstrates that while this relationship is similar among firms across countries, its magnitude varies across countries, and that the cultural dimensions of in-group collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance help explain this variance. Implications from these findings and future directions for employee downsizing research and practice are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghna Goswami

Purpose This study aims to investigate the influence of social intelligence and collective efficacy on the fearlessness of change. Furthermore, this study investigates the mediation effect of collective efficacy and moderating role of management commitment to change in the relationship between social intelligence and fearlessness of change. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is based on data collected from 296 members of information technology and Banking Financial Services Industry organisations using a survey questionnaire. Hypotheses have been tested using structural equation modelling. Findings The findings show that social intelligence and collective efficacy positively influence fearlessness of change. Social intelligence also impacts collective efficacy positively. Further, collective efficacy acts as a mediator and management commitment to change acts as a moderator in the relationship between social intelligence and fearlessness of change. Research limitations/implications This study highlights the relevance of social intelligence in fostering a fearless attitude towards change for easy transition from the current organisational state to a new or desired state. Practical implications Organisational leaders must strive to develop a climate of fearlessness in organisations undergoing change so that the employees acquire this attitude of fearlessness and face the hurdles that come with change with a positive mind set. Originality/value This study is amongst the few such studies that examined the relationship amongst variables of this study.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bedman Narteh ◽  
Mahama Braimah

Purpose Even though scholars have proposed multiple dimensions to measure corporate reputation, the relationship between these dimensions and service provider selection has received a dearth of research. Moreover, the moderating role of brand image on this relationship has hardly been considered. The purpose of this paper is to fill these gaps in the literature. Design/methodology/approach The study employed a quantitative approach, collecting data from 540 retail bank customers using surveys. Results were analyzed using structural equation modelling in AMOS. Findings The study found out that emotional engagement, corporate performance, customer centricism and service quality directly predicted customer selection of retail banks in Ghana. The results further indicated that brand image moderates the relationship between social and ethical engagement, which was not directly significant and bank selection. Practical implications The findings of the study indicate that some of the dimensions of corporate reputation have a direct impact on bank selection by customers, and that brand image could also be used to improve social and ethical dimension of corporate reputation to ensure bank selection by retail customers. The study thus provides practical guidelines for managing corporate reputation to achieve retail bank selection in Ghana. Originality/value The paper provides support to some of the prior studies on corporate reputation in the retail banking sector. Thus, the study provides useful insights into how corporate reputation can be managed to ensure service provider selection by retail bank customers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 799-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karnica Tanwar ◽  
Amresh Kumar

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between employer brand dimensions and employer of choice (EOC). The paper also analyses the role of person-organisation fit in transferring employer brand dimensions to EOC status, and the moderating role of social media in the relationship between person-organisation fit and EOC. Design/methodology/approach Factor analysis has been conducted to validate the “employer attractiveness” scale for identifying the dimensions of employer brand. Structural equation modelling has been used to conduct mediation and moderation analysis. The results are based on the perceptions of college students regarding employer brand dimensions and EOC status. Findings The paper provides empirical insights on how the person-organisation fit helps in transferring employer brand dimensions to EOC status. The results indicate that the person-organisation fit acts as a full mediator, indicating that for becoming a EOC, the dimensions of employer brand must be linked to the person-organisation fit. Also, the moderation analysis results highlight the importance of social media towards obtaining EOC status. Originality/value The authors believe that the study is the first of its kind to investigate drivers of EOC, and to identify the role of the person-organisation fit as a mediating variable and social media as a moderating variable.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riza Casidy ◽  
Michael Lwin ◽  
Ian Phau

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of religiosity as a deterrent to habitual digital piracy behaviour. Specifically, it will examine the extent to which “religious teaching” affects consumer attitudes towards digital piracy and their habitual digital piracy behaviour in a developing market. Design/methodology/approach In total, 400 usable samples were collected from large religious organisations in Indonesia using convenience sampling. The latent moderation structural equation technique was used to test the research hypotheses. Findings The results indicated that: facilitating conditions are a significant driver of digital piracy habit; attitude towards piracy is a significant deterrent of digital piracy and moderates the relationship between facilitating conditions and habitual digital piracy; and religious teaching is a significant deterrent of digital piracy habit, mediated by attitude towards piracy. Originality/value This study investigates the influence of Christian religious teaching as a deterrent to digital piracy behaviour. Further, it investigates the mediating and moderating role of attitude in a digital piracy context. The study findings would provide insights for policy makers to deter digital piracy behaviour through the use of religious appeals.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingjie Ju ◽  
Hanping Hou ◽  
Jianliang Yang

PurposeUsing the logistics service supply chain (LSSC) as a research object, this study focuses on the relationship between integration quality (IQ), value co-creation (VCC), and LSSC resilience. Moreover, it discusses the moderating role of digital technology (DT).Design/methodology/approachBased on data about China, this study used the structural equation model to test the research hypothesis. To verify the validity of each construct, this study used various established scales in the literature to conduct exploratory and confirmatory analysis.FindingsThe results show that IQ is an essential antecedent variable that promotes VCC and LSSC resilience. Moreover, this study confirms that DT has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between IQ, VCC, and resilience.Originality/valueThis study constructs a research framework to examine LSSC resilience and expands the theoretical research on the VCC theory in the supply chain literature. Moreover, this paper studies supply chain integration from a new perspective, that is, IQ, which is more in line with the reality of LSSC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 2451-2475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahsen Maqsoom ◽  
Muhammad Hamad ◽  
Hassan Ashraf ◽  
Muhammad Jamaluddin Thaheem ◽  
Muhammad Umer

PurposeDespite the efforts of project managers and the widespread use of project management methodologies, most of the projects remain unfulfilling in terms of delivering targeted performance. This for most part can be attributed to the inability of an organization to implement control mechanisms and ineffective management of complexity risk. Keeping in view the aforementioned problem, the objective of this study is to investigate the association between control modes and project performance. Moreover, this study also examines the moderating role of complexity risk on the association among various control modes and project performance.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from 171 construction projects through a postal questionnaire survey. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was utilized for testing the hypothesized relationships of the research model.FindingsThis study found significant positive relation between formal and informal control mechanisms and project performance. It is found that complexity risk significantly moderates the relationship between control modes and project performance. The results indicate that complexity risk positively moderates the relationship between outcome control and clan control with project performance. Furthermore, complexity risks negatively moderates the relationship between behavior control and project performance. However, the association between self-control and project performance is found insignificant in the presence of complexity risk.Originality/valueThis study is the first attempt to study the relationship of control mechanisms, complexity risk and project performance in the construction industry.


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