Mechanisms underlying supervisor creativity-relevant skills and subordinate creativity

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to focus on exploring how supervisors with high creativity-relevant skills stimulate their subordinate creativity through subordinate creativity-relevant skills and creative role identity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzed the data gathered from 381 employees working in information technology (IT) organizations in Southern Vietnam using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The results indicate that supervisor creativity-relevant skills did not directly influence subordinate creativity. However, subordinate creativity-relevant skills and creative role identity fully mediated this association.

Practical implications

First, when staffing supervisory positions, organizations should consider individuals with a high level of creativity-relevant skills. Second, organizations should encourage supervisors to participate in training programs to develop knowledge and skills, in particular, creativity-relevant skills. Third, organizations should design a work environment that gives employees a substantial amount of time to interact with supervisors who have a high level of creativity-relevant skills. Finally, organizations should give supervisors opportunities for sharing their creativity-relevant skills with their subordinates.

Originality/value

This research is one of the first efforts to investigate the crucial role of supervisor creativity-relevant skills in enhancing subordinate creativity. Moreover, this research seeks to examine subordinate creativity-relevant skills and creative role identity as mediating mechanisms linking supervisor creativity-relevant skills with subordinates' creative performance.

Citation

Thuan, L.C. (2020), "Mechanisms underlying supervisor creativity-relevant skills and subordinate creativity", Evidence-based HRM, Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 315-326. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBHRM-10-2019-0096