Ethical Leadership and Employee Creativity Among Engineering Employees: Evidence From a Developing Economy
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Date
2023-03-31
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Benchmarking: An International Journal
Abstract
Purpose– Based on the trait activation theory, the current study systematically integrates how autonomy
interacts with proactivity to influence the relationship between ethical leadership style and employee
creativity.
Design/methodology/approach– Using simple random sampling and questionnaires, a sample of 475
engineering employees of 3 leading telecommunication companies in Ghana were obtained. The analysis was
done using structured equation modeling (SEM), using Smart PLS.
Findings– The results showed that ethical leadership style provides employees with job autonomy which
facilitates individual creativity. Employee proactivity also moderates a positive relationship between autonomy
and creativity such that high-proactive employees are well placed to produce more creative outcomes when
given autonomy. At the individual level, personal characteristics determine the degree of creativity.
Practical implications– The current study implies that telecommunication companies should put in more
efforts to train and encourage leaders to be ethical in leaders’ dealings with employees and employees must be
rewarded for taking initiative.
Originality/value– With a focus on the integrative approach from a developing economy, this work is novel
in exploring how contextual and personal features impact creativity.
Description
Keywords
Ethical leadership, Job autonomy, Proactivity, Self-efficacy, Creativity
Citation
Tetteh, S., Dei Mensah, R., Opata, C. N., & Mensah, C. N. (2024). Ethical leadership and employee creativity among engineering employees: Evidence from a developing economy. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 31(4), 1142-1162.