Psychological capital, innovators’ DNA and innovative behaviour

Orientation: This study was positioned within the field of positive psychology, specifically positive organisational behaviour scholarship (POBS). Research purpose: The aim of the research was to investigate the relationship between psychological capital (PsyCap), employees’ innovative thinking and...

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Main Authors: Karen M. Milner, Nadia Criticos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2023-01-01
Series:SA Journal of Industrial Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/1994
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author Karen M. Milner
Nadia Criticos
author_facet Karen M. Milner
Nadia Criticos
author_sort Karen M. Milner
collection DOAJ
description Orientation: This study was positioned within the field of positive psychology, specifically positive organisational behaviour scholarship (POBS). Research purpose: The aim of the research was to investigate the relationship between psychological capital (PsyCap), employees’ innovative thinking and their innovative behaviour. Motivation for the study: Psychological capital has been associated with many positive organisational behaviour outcomes, but relatively little previous research has addressed the relationship between PsyCap and innovation in South Africa. In a similar vein, there is much interest in the Innovator’s DNA model, but it too has received little research scrutiny. Combining these variables into a single model, provided an opportunity to address both these research gaps. Research approach/design and method: The research design was quantitative in nature. The model of innovative behaviour was tested on a sample of 485 employees from the travel and automotive industries in South Africa. Main findings: The model of innovative behaviour was mostly supported by the data. Significant relationships between PsyCap, innovators’ DNA (innovative thinking) and innovative behaviour were found. Practical/managerial implications: The characteristics that underpin both PsyCap and innovative thinking have been shown in previous research to be malleable and trainable. The current research found that both these variables contributed significantly to the variance in innovative thinking. Managers seeking employees who engage in innovative behaviours would do well to spend time and effort in the training and development of both PsyCap and innovative thinking. Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to the limited amount of research on employee innovative behaviour in South Africa. Specifically, the study established a link between employees’ cognitive skills, psychological skills and innovative behaviour.
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spelling doaj.art-5108965a983c497c855b7ad64f38d9ee2023-02-01T13:14:02ZengAOSISSA Journal of Industrial Psychology0258-52002071-07632023-01-01490e1e910.4102/sajip.v49i0.19941250Psychological capital, innovators’ DNA and innovative behaviourKaren M. Milner0Nadia Criticos1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Witwatersrand, JohannesburgDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Witwatersrand, JohannesburgOrientation: This study was positioned within the field of positive psychology, specifically positive organisational behaviour scholarship (POBS). Research purpose: The aim of the research was to investigate the relationship between psychological capital (PsyCap), employees’ innovative thinking and their innovative behaviour. Motivation for the study: Psychological capital has been associated with many positive organisational behaviour outcomes, but relatively little previous research has addressed the relationship between PsyCap and innovation in South Africa. In a similar vein, there is much interest in the Innovator’s DNA model, but it too has received little research scrutiny. Combining these variables into a single model, provided an opportunity to address both these research gaps. Research approach/design and method: The research design was quantitative in nature. The model of innovative behaviour was tested on a sample of 485 employees from the travel and automotive industries in South Africa. Main findings: The model of innovative behaviour was mostly supported by the data. Significant relationships between PsyCap, innovators’ DNA (innovative thinking) and innovative behaviour were found. Practical/managerial implications: The characteristics that underpin both PsyCap and innovative thinking have been shown in previous research to be malleable and trainable. The current research found that both these variables contributed significantly to the variance in innovative thinking. Managers seeking employees who engage in innovative behaviours would do well to spend time and effort in the training and development of both PsyCap and innovative thinking. Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to the limited amount of research on employee innovative behaviour in South Africa. Specifically, the study established a link between employees’ cognitive skills, psychological skills and innovative behaviour.https://sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/1994psychological capitalinnovative thinkinginnovative behaviourpositive psychologyinnovator’s dna model
spellingShingle Karen M. Milner
Nadia Criticos
Psychological capital, innovators’ DNA and innovative behaviour
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology
psychological capital
innovative thinking
innovative behaviour
positive psychology
innovator’s dna model
title Psychological capital, innovators’ DNA and innovative behaviour
title_full Psychological capital, innovators’ DNA and innovative behaviour
title_fullStr Psychological capital, innovators’ DNA and innovative behaviour
title_full_unstemmed Psychological capital, innovators’ DNA and innovative behaviour
title_short Psychological capital, innovators’ DNA and innovative behaviour
title_sort psychological capital innovators dna and innovative behaviour
topic psychological capital
innovative thinking
innovative behaviour
positive psychology
innovator’s dna model
url https://sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/1994
work_keys_str_mv AT karenmmilner psychologicalcapitalinnovatorsdnaandinnovativebehaviour
AT nadiacriticos psychologicalcapitalinnovatorsdnaandinnovativebehaviour