IMPACT OF PATERNALISTIC LEADERSHIP ON EMPLOYEE CREATIVITY AMONG THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS: A CASE OF KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between three dimensions of paternalistic leadership which are benevolent leadership, moral leadership, and authoritarian leadership, on the creativity of healthcare workers in the community of Karachi, Pakistan. The nature of work in the hospital is extremely complex and the staff has to perform many tasks at the same time. Such intense activity must propel them towards creativity so that they discover the new ways to do these tasks simultaneously. Moreover, to cope up with such dynamic environment employee’s creativity is crucial for any organization because it brings potential and useful ideas in organization for growth, and desired outcome. Studies have claimed that benevolent leadership and moral leadership style of supervisors, departmental heads or top management are effectively developing creative behavior in employees; however, the authoritarian leadership style creates fear and lack of motivation in employee which destroy the ability of employee to think and act creatively. Methodology & Design: The research approach for this study is deductive. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among healthcare employees Karachi, Pakistan. The correlation study design was conducted in which relationship between variables are investigated. The sample size for this study is n = 290. The data was analyzed using SPSS Software and the test includes hypothesis tests, and multiple regression models. Findings: Results shows that in Pakistani culture, only benevolent leadership is impacting positively on employee creativity, while the moral and authoritarian leadership have no relationship with employee creativity. Limitations: Due to cross sectional study, data was gathered in limited time period. Moreover, the study is specifically performed in healthcare industry so the population for study is specified and limited. In addition to that, the given research is academic in nature and has to be completed in stipulated time frame. If more time was allocated then the research would have been more detailed. Similarly, the department ofthe university has not allocated any budget for conducting the given research. 't I 1 ‘ Recommendations: Managers are recommended to exhibit benevolence leadership as it creates directly positive effect on employee creativity.