Rethinking the Building Blocks of Employee Creativity: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Research

Year 2024, Volume: 53 Issue: 1, 1 - 22, 30.04.2024

Merve Gerçek

https://doi.org/10.26650/ibr.2024.53.1301642

Abstract

Employee creativity refers to the generation of novel and useful ideas by either an individual or a group of individuals who are actively engaged in collaborative endeavors. Organizations can take advantage of new opportunities, maintain their competitive advantage, and adapt to dynamic situations with the help of novel ideas and decisions. Additionally, innovation is closely related to employee creativity, which has a significant impact on market expansion and profitability. Extensive research has been conducted on employee creativity, with a substantial number of studies using a quantitative methodology. The main goal of this study is to create a comprehensive framework that encompasses the factors that impact employee creativity at different levels, based on qualitative findings. An assessment was conducted on 32 qualitative studies through thematic synthesis using the meta-synthesis approach, a qualitative research method that systematically integrates and analyzes the findings of multiple qualitative studies. Through an iterative coding process, related categories and themes across studies were identified and synthesized to generate a detailed understanding of the factors that influence employee creativity. According to the findings, three primary themes, individual-level factors, group-level factors, and organizational-level factors, were identified. This study provides an alternative perspective on the multifaceted nature of employee creativity, providing insights for researchers and practitioners to promote innovation and enhance organizational success.

Keywords

Employee creativity, Meta-synthesis, Qualitative research, Innovation

Project Number

Proje desteği alınmamıştır.

References

• Acar, S., Tadik, H., Myers, D., Van der Sman, C., & Uysal, R. (2023). Creativity and well-being: A meta-analysis. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 55(3), 738-751. google scholar
• Adams, C., Hooker, L., & Taft, A. (2023). A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis of the roles of home-visiting nurses working with women experiencing family violence. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(4), 1189-1210. google scholar
• Amabile, T. M. (1983). The social psychology of creativity: A componential conceptualization. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45(2), 357. google scholar
• Amabile, T., & Kramer, S. (2011). The progress principle: Using small wins to ignite joy, engagement, and creativity at work. Harvard Business Press. google scholar
• Amabile, T. M., & Pillemer, J. (2012). Perspectives on the social psychology of creativity. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 46(1), 3-15. google scholar
• Amabile, T. M., Schatzel, E. A., Moneta, G. B., & Kramer, S. J. (2004). Leader behaviors and the work envi-ronment for creativity: Perceived leader support. The leadership quarterly, 15(1), 5-32. google scholar
• Anderson, N., Potocnik, K., & Zhou, J. (2014). Innovation and creativity in organizations: A state-of-the-science review, prospective commentary, and guiding framework. Journal of Management, 40(5), 12971333. google scholar
• Andriopoulos, C. (2001) Determinants of Organisational Creativity: A Literature Review. Management De-cision, 39, 834-41. google scholar
• Atkins, S., Lewin, S., Smith, H., Engel, M., Fretheim, A., & Volmink, J. (2008). Conducting a meta-ethnog-raphy of qualitative literature: lessons learnt. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 8(1), 1-10. google scholar
• Basadur, M. (2004). Managing creativity: A Japanese model. In Katz, R. (Ed.) The human side of managing technological innovation: A collection of readings. Oxford University Press. google scholar
• Bell, S.T., Villado, A.J., Lukasik, M., Belau, L. & Briggs, A.L. (2011) Getting specific about demographic diversity variable and team performance relationships: A meta-analysis. Journal of Management, 37(3), 709-743. google scholar
• Bouncken, R., Brem, A., & Kraus, S. (2016). Multi-cultural teams as sources for creativity and innovati-on: The role of cultural diversity on team performance. International Journal of Innovation Manage-ment, 20(01), 1650012. google scholar
• Bukantaite, S., & Sedereviciüte-Paciauskiene, Z. (2021). Fashion industry professionals’ viewpoints on cre-ativity at work. Creativity Studies, 14(1), 145-159. google scholar
• Bunduchi, R. (2009). Implementing best practices to support creativity in NPD cross-functional teams. Inter-national Journal of Innovation Management, 13(04), 537-554. google scholar
• Byron, K., Khazanchi, S., & Nazarian, D. (2010). The relationship between stressors and creativity: a meta-analysis examining competing theoretical models. Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(1), 201. google scholar
• Cabra, J. F., Talbot, R. J., & Joniak, A. J. (2007). Potential explanations of climate factors that help and hinder workplace creativity: a case from selected Colombian companies. Cuadernos de Administracion, 20(33), 273-301. google scholar
• Chamakiotis, P., Dekoninck, E. A., & Panteli, N. (2013). Factors influencing creativity in virtual design teams: An interplay between technology, teams and individuals. Creativity and Innovation Manage-ment, 22(3), 265-279. google scholar
• Chang, S., Jia, L., Takeuchi, R., & Cai, Y. (2014). Do high-commitment work systems affect creativity? A multilevel combinational approach to employee creativity. Journal of Applied Psychology, 99(4), 665680. google scholar
• Chuang, L. M. (2007). The social psychology of creativity and innovation: Process theory (PT) perspecti-ve. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 35(7), 875-888. google scholar
• Cirella, S. (2021). Managing collective creativity: Organizational variables to support creative teamwork. Eu-ropean Management Review, 18(4), 404-417. google scholar
• Cirella, S., Guerci, M. & Shani, A.B. (2012) A process model of collaborative management research: The study of collective creativity in the luxury industry. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 25(3), 281300. google scholar
• De Alencar, E. M. S., & De Bruno-Faria, M. F. (1997). Characteristics of on organizational environment which stimulate and inhibit creativity. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 31(4), 271-281. google scholar
• De Jesus, S. N., Rus, C. L., Lens, W., & Imaginario, S. (2013). Intrinsic motivation and creativity rela-ted to product: A meta-analysis of the studies published between 1990-2010. Creativity Research Journal, 25(1), 80-84. google scholar
• Deng, X., & Guan, Z. (2017). Creative leaders create ‘unsung heroes’: leader creativity and subordinate organizational citizenship behavior. Frontiers of Business Research in China, 11(1), 1-13. google scholar
• Dorenbosch, L., Engen, M. L. V., & Verhagen, M. (2005). On-the-job innovation: The impact of job design and human resource management through production ownership. Creativity and Innovation manage-ment, 14(2), 129-141. google scholar
• Epstein, R., Kaminaka, K., Phan, V. & Uda, R. (2013) How is creativity best managed? Some empirical and theoretical guidelines. Creativity and Innovation Management, 22(4), 359-374. google scholar
• Field, A. P., & Gillett, R. (2010). How to do a meta-analysis. British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, 63(3), 665-694. google scholar
• Finfgeld-Connett, D. (2010). Generalizability and transferability of meta-synthesis research findings. Jour-nal of Advanced Nursing, 66(2), 246-254. google scholar
• Francis, J. J., Johnston, M., Robertson, C., Glidewell, L., Entwistle, V., Eccles, M. P., & Grimshaw, J. M. (2010). What is an adequate sample size? Operationalising data saturation for theory-based interview studies. Psychology and Health, 25(10), 1229-1245. google scholar
• Gilson, L.L., Lee, Y.S. & Litchfield, R.C. (2019). Advances in team creativity research, Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Business and Management. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. google scholar
• Gonzalez, R. V. D. (2022). Innovative performance of project teams: the role of organizational structure and knowledge-based dynamic capability. Journal of Knowledge Management, 26(5), 1164-1186. google scholar
• Gupta, V., & Singh, S. (2012). How leaders impact employee creativity: A study of Indian R&D laboratori-es. Management Research Review, 36(1), 66-88. google scholar
• Han, S. J., Chae, C., Macko, P., Park, W., & Beyerlein, M. (2017). How virtual team leaders cope with crea-tivity challenges. European Journal of Training and Development. 41(3), 261-276. google scholar
• Hartmann, M., Laubengaier, D., & Foerstl, K. (2019). Live and let die: On the management of creati-vity. Technology Innovation Management Review, 9(10), 16-26. google scholar
• Harvey, S. (2014) Creative synthesis: Exploring the process of extraordinary group creativity. Academy of Management Review, 39(3),324-343. google scholar
• Hemlin, S., & Olsson, L. (2011). Creativity-stimulating leadership: A critical incident study of leaders’ influ-ence on creativity in research groups. Creativity and Innovation Management, 20(1), 49-58. google scholar
• Hoff, E. V., & Öberg, N. K. (2015). The role of the physical work environment for creative employees-a case study of digital artists. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 26(14), 1889-1906. google scholar
• Hoon, C. (2013). Meta-synthesis of qualitative case studies: An approach to theory building. Organizational Research Methods, 16(4), 522-556. google scholar
• Houghton, J. D. and DiLiello, T. C. 2010. Leadership development: a key to unlocking individual creativity in organizations. Leadership and Development, 31(3), 230-245. google scholar
• Jaiswal, A., & Arun, C. J. (2022). Working from home during COVID-19 and its impact on Indian employe-es’ stress and creativity. Asian Business & Management, 1-25. google scholar
• Kakko, I., & Inkinen, S. (2009). Homo creativus: creativity and serendipity management in third generation science and technology parks. Science and Public Policy, 36(7), 537-548. google scholar
• Kelloway, E. K., & Barling, J. (2000). What we have learned about developing transformational leaders. Le-adership & Organization Development Journal, 21(7), 355-362. google scholar
• Kim, T. Y., Hon, A. H., & Lee, D. R. (2010). Proactive personality and employee creativity: The effects of job creativity requirement and supervisor support for creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 22(1), 37-45. google scholar
• Koh, D., Lee, K., & Joshi, K. (2019). Transformational leadership and creativity: A meta-analytic review and identification of an integrated model. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 40(6), 625-650. google scholar
• Kruyen, P. M., & van Genugten, M. (2017). Creativity in local government: Definition and determinants. Pub-lic Administration, 95(3), 825-841. google scholar
• Lace, N., Buldakova, N., & Rumbinaite, G. (2015). Organizational creativity as a driving force for company’s innovative development. Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 3(2), 137. google scholar
• Laukkanen, V, Siimeksela, M., Leavengood, S., & Hansen, E. (2017). Best practices in capturing employee creativity: forest sector firms in the USA and Finland. International Wood Products Journal, 8(1), 10-17. google scholar
• Lazazzara, A., Tims, M., & De Gennaro, D. (2020). The process of reinventing a job: A meta-synthesis of qualitative job crafting research. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 116, 103267. google scholar
• Lee, A., Legood, A., Hughes, D., Tian, A. W., Newman, A., & Knight, C. (2020). Leadership, creativity and innovation: A meta-analytic review. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 29(1), 1-35. google scholar
• Lee, C., Hallak, R., & Sardeshmukh, S. R. (2019). Creativity and innovation in the restaurant sector: Supply-side processes and barriers to implementation. Tourism Management Perspectives, 31, 54-62. google scholar
• Liu, D., Jiang, K., Shalley, C. E., Keem, S., & Zhou, J. (2016). Motivational mechanisms of employee cre-ativity: A meta-analytic examination and theoretical extension of the creativity literature. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 137, 236-263. google scholar
• Locke, K. (2002). The grounded theory approach to qualitative research. In F. Drasgow & N. Schmitt (Eds.), Measuring and analyzing behavior in organizations: Advances in measurement and data analy-sis (pp. 17-43). Jossey-Bass/Wiley. google scholar
• Mangion, M., & Scicluna, K. (2022, November). Exploring the links between ethical leadership, creativity and the work environment in hospital wards. In ECMLG 2022 18th European Conference on Manage-ment, Leadership and Governance. Academic Conferences and Publishing Limited. google scholar
• Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Sage. google scholar
• Moultrie, J., & Young, A. (2009). Exploratory study of organizational creativity in creative organizati-ons. Creativity and Innovation Management, 18(4), 299-314. google scholar
• Mumford, M. D., Hunter, S. T., Eubanks, D. L., Bedell, K. E., & Murphy, S. T. (2007). Developing leaders for creative efforts: A domain-based approach to leadership development. Human Resource Management Review, 17(4), 402-417. google scholar
• Nyawo, P., & Schultz, C. (2020). Managing employee creativity and innovation in selected Zimbabwean manufacturing companies. Southern African Business Review, 24, 2-24. google scholar
• Nye, E., Melendez-Torres, G. J., & Bonell, C. (2016). Origins, methods and advances in qualitative meta-synthesis. Review of Education, 4(1), 57-79. google scholar
• Ocker, R. J. (2005). Influences on creativity in asynchronous virtual teams: A qualitative analysis of experi-mental teams. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 48(1), 22-39. google scholar
• Oldham, G. R., & Cummings, A. (1996). Employee creativity: Personal and contextual factors at work. Aca-demy of Management Journal, 39(3), 607-634. google scholar
• Olsson, A., B. Paredes, K. M., Johansson, U., Olander Roese, M., & Ritzen, S. (2019). Organizational cli-mate for innovation and creativity-a study in Swedish retail organizations. The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 29(3), 243-261. google scholar
• Omilion-Hodges, L. M., & Ackerman, C. D. (2018). From the technical know-how to the free flow of ideas: exploring the effects of leader, peer, and team communication on employee creativity. Communication Quarterly, 66(1), 38-57. google scholar
• Paek, B., Martyn, J., Oja, B. D., Kim, M., & Larkins, R. J. (2022). Searching for sport employee creativity: A mixed-methods exploration. European Sport Management Quarterly, 22(4), 483-505. google scholar
• Paterson, B. L. (2011). It looks great but how do I know if it fits?: An introduction to meta-synthesis research. In Hannes, K., & Lockwood, C. (Eds.), Synthesizing qualitative research: Choosing the right approach (pp 1-20). John Wiley & Sons. google scholar
• Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., ... & Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. Internatio-nal Journal of Surgery, 88, 105906. google scholar
• Plucker, J. A., & Beghetto, R. A. (2004). Why Creativity Is Domain General, Why It Looks Domain Specific, and Why the Distinction Does Not Matter. In R. J. Sternberg, E. L. Grigorenko, & J. L. Singer (Eds.), Cre-ativity: From potential to realization (pp. 153-167). American Psychological Association. google scholar
• Politis, J. D. (2005). Dispersed leadership predictor of the work environment for creativity and producti-vity. European journal ofInnovation Management, 8(2), 182-204. google scholar
• Rampa, R., & Agogue, M. (2021). Developing radical innovation capabilities: Exploring the effects of tra-ining employees for creativity and innovation. Creativity and Innovation Management, 30(1), 211-227. google scholar
• Raqshin, S., & Nirjar, A. (2012). Accruing individual potential for creativity and innovation in biotechnology firms. International Journal ofInnovation and Learning, 11(2), 162-181. google scholar
• Rodrigues, E. C. G., Neris, R. R., Nascimento, L. C., de Oliveira-Cardoso, E. A., & Dos Santos, M. A. (2023). Body image experience of women with breast cancer: A meta-synthesis. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 37(1), 20-36. google scholar
• Sandelowski, M., Barroso, J., & Voils, C. I. (2007). Using qualitative metasummary to synthesize qualitative and quantitative descriptive findings. Research in Nursing & Health, 30(1), 99-111. google scholar
• Sarooghi, H., Libaers, D., & Burkemper, A. (2015). Examining the relationship between creativity and in-novation: A meta-analysis of organizational, cultural, and environmental factors. Journal of Business Venturing, 30(5), 714-731. google scholar
• Shalley, C. E., & Gilson, L. L. (2004). A little creativity goes a long way: An examination of team’s engage-ment in creative processes. Journal ofManagement, 30, 453-470. google scholar
• Sherief, M. (2019). Key Organizational Climate Elements Influencing Employees’ Creativity in Govern-ment. The Innovation Journal, 24(1), 1-16. google scholar
• Soral, P., Pati, S. P., Singh, S. K., & Cooke, F. L. (2022). Coping with dirty work: a meta-synthesis from a resource perspective. Human Resource Management Review, 32(4), 100861. google scholar
• Staw, B. M. (2009). Is group creativity really an oxymoron? Some thoughts on bridging the cohesion-creati-vity divide. In Creativity in Groups (Vol. 12, pp. 311-323). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. google scholar
• Tan, A. B., van Dun, D. H., & Wilderom, C. P. (2023). Lean innovation training and transformational leaders-hip for employee creative role identity and innovative work behavior in a public service organization. In-ternational Journal ofLean Six Sigma. Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. google scholar
• Thomas, J., & Harden, A. (2008). Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 8(1), 1-10. google scholar
• Tierney, P., & Farmer, S. M. (2002). Creative self-efficacy: Its potential antecedents and relationship to cre-ative performance. Academy of Management Journal, 45, 1137-1148. google scholar
• Tong, A., Flemming, K., McInnes, E., Oliver, S., & Craig, J. (2012). Enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research: ENTREQ. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 12(1), 1-8. google scholar
• Toye, F., Seers, K., & Barker, K. (2014). A meta-ethnography of patients’ experiences of chronic pelvic pain: struggling to construct chronic pelvic pain as ‘real’. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(12), 2713-2727. google scholar
• Ullah, Y., Ullah, H., & Jan, S. (2022). The mediating role of employee creativity between knowledge sharing and innovative performance: Empirical evidence from manufacturing firms in emerging markets. Mana-gement Research Review, 45(1), 86-100. google scholar
• Unsworth, K. L., & Clegg, C. W. (2010). Why do employees undertake creative action?. Journal of Occupa-tional and Organizational Psychology, 83(1), 77-99. google scholar
• Walsh, D., & Downe, S. (2005). Meta-synthesis method for qualitative research: a literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 50(2), 204-211. google scholar
• Wei, H., Wu, B., Park, H., & Bilimoria, D. (2023). A power-with versus power-over framework of leadership behaviors, employee expectations, and employee creativity: A meta-analysis. Journal of General Mana-gement, 03063070231167221. google scholar
• Woodman, R.W., Sawyer, J.E. and Griffin, R.W. (1993) Toward a Theory of Organizational Creativity. The Academy of Management Review, 18, 293-321. google scholar
• Yeh, Y. C. (2017). Research development of creativity. Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology, 2017, 1-11. google scholar
• Yeh, Y. C. (2004). The interactive influences of three ecological systems on R & D employees’ technological creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 16(1), 11-25. google scholar
• Yekanialibeiglou, S., Demirkan, H., & Denti, L. (2021). Enhancing creativity in activity-based offices: A critical incident study of knowledge workers. Creativity and Innovation Management, 30(4), 763-782. google scholar
• Zare, M., & Flinchbaugh, C. (2019). Voice, creativity, and big five personality traits: A meta-analysis. Human Performance, 32(1), 30-51. google scholar
• Zubair, A., Bashir, M., Abrar, M., Baig, S. A., & Hassan, S. Y. (2015). Employee’s participation in decision making and manager’s encouragement of creativity: the mediating role of climate for creativity and chan-ge. Journal of Service Science and Management, 8(03), 306. google scholar
• Zhang, X., & Bartol, K. M. (2010). The influence of creative process engagement on employee creative per-formance and overall job performance: a curvilinear assessment. Journal of Applied psychology, 95(5), 862. google scholar