The role of HRM as an enabler of creativity: initial research findings

Anastasia Kulichyova, Sandra Moffett, Judith McKnight

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

    Abstract

    This paper investigates the strategic role of HRM as a facilitator of more creative behaviours amongst employees. Although creativity has broadly been recognised as an essential ingredient of long-term organisational success (Aleksić et al, 2016; Curado, 2017), evidence suggests that much remains hidden in the current state of research (Martin and Wilson, 2017). For instance, it is still unclear whether and how creativity enhancing strategies can reduce the negative effect of less creative behaviours of employees on their performance and overall organisational effectiveness. The scant research to date highlights that certain Human Resource Development (HRD) interventions can evoke an opportunity of organisational and personal growth, due to developing and unleashing untapped human expertise (Gilley et al, 2011). However, no previous work has empirically tested the fit between strategic HRD and individual creative behaviours (Loewenberger, 2016). This paper adopts a mixed method research design, demonstrating a more inclusive approach to the challenge of human creativity at work. By encouraging participants to complete a multi-faceted self-assessment tool and engage in creative HRD interventions (workshop) we aim to detect changes in individual creative behaviour. Quantitative data is based on analysis of individual responses to the self-assessment tool, and qualitative data emerges from the workshop. The preliminary results of the pilot study suggest that participants find such a research approach a useful exercise, contributory to their creative thinking. As a result of the study, a model of creativity will be generated, grounded on the insights from the dynamic componential model of creativity (Amabile and Pratt, 2016), the model of creative problem-solving (Treffinger et al, 2008), and the concept of human flourishing (McCormack and Titchen, 2014). A complex self-assessment tool will be developed, allowing for the simultaneous and in-depth evaluation of various creativity-related parameters: personality traits, self-concept characteristics, and perceptions of the work environment. Research findings will be published in 3-star journals and a PhD thesis.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of the 18th European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies, ECRM 2019
    EditorsAnthony Stacey
    PublisherAcademic Conferences Limited
    Pages370-377
    Number of pages8
    ISBN (Electronic)9781912764204
    Publication statusPublished - 20 Jun 2019
    Event18th European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies - Johannesburg, South Africa
    Duration: 20 Jun 201921 Jun 2019

    Publication series

    NameProceedings of the European Conference on Research Methods in Business and Management Studies
    Volume2019-June
    ISSN (Print)2049-0968
    ISSN (Electronic)2049-0976

    Conference

    Conference18th European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies
    Abbreviated titleECRM 2019
    Country/TerritorySouth Africa
    CityJohannesburg
    Period20/06/1921/06/19

    Keywords

    • Creative behaviour
    • Employee creativity
    • HRD intervention
    • Mixed method

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