DETERMINANTS OF INNOVATIVE WORK BEHAVIOR: ROLE OF EUSTRESS AND WORK ENGAGEMENT AS SIMULTANEOUS MEDIATORS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JD-R AND INNOVATIVE WORK BEHAVIOR

Abstract

Purpose: The study is concerned with the determinants of innovative work behavior and examines pluralistic impact of job demands, job resources and personal resources employees’ innovative work behavior directly and through the simultaneous mediating role of eustress and work engagement. Design/ Methodology/ Approach: The study is explanatory in nature and uses triangulation approach for data collection and integration. 436 knowledge workers and 40 managers of IT sector of Pakistan are respondents of quantitative and qualitative parts of research respectively. Quantitative data have been collected through survey approach using a well-structured questionnaire. Whereas, semi-structured in depth face to face interviews have been conducted for qualitative data collection and analyzed using thematic analysis technique with the help of NVivo software application. Findings: The study findings confirmed the distinctiveness of variables used in the research. The results of statistical analysis and interview contents confirmed that job demands (creativity role expectations & workload), job resources (autonomy & intellectual stimulation) and personal resources (creative self-efficacy & resilience) promote innovative work behavior while eustress and work engagement mediate the relationship between JD-R and IWB of employees working in IT sector of Pakistan. Originality/ Value: The research study contributes to innovation and JD-R theories with novel empirical knowledge through delineating the linking mechanism between job demands, job resources and personal resources and innovative work behavior. The main novel contribution of the study is exploration of knowledge pertaining to simultaneous mediating role of eustress and work engagement between JD-R and innovative work behavior. Moreover, in contrary to previously highlighted negative impacts of job demands, this study has explored the positive spiral of job demands which has potential to stimulate eustress, work engagement and innovative work behavior of employees. The newly explored knowledge is helpful in strengthening the innovative work behavior of employees to promote creativity and innovation and uplift the IT sector of Pakistan to substantial extent.