RETRACTED: Unlocking employee creativity: How learning orientation and transformational leadership spark innovation...

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Management Science

Background:

• Employee creativity is crucial for SMEs in China's manufacturing sector.
• Understanding the interplay of individual learning orientation and transformational leadership is key to fostering innovation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how individual learning orientation (ILO) and transformational leadership (TL) influence employee creativity.
• To examine the mediating role of creative self-efficacy (CSE) in these relationships within Chinese SMEs.

Main Methods:

• Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to analyze data from 406 employees.
• The study assessed the direct effects of ILO and TL dimensions (idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration) on creativity.
• The mediating role of CSE was tested for its influence on the ILO-creativity and TL-creativity links.

Main Results:

• ILO significantly enhances employee creativity.
• All dimensions of TL positively correlate with employee creativity.
• CSE mediates the relationship between ILO and creativity, and between idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration, and creativity, but not inspirational motivation.

Conclusions:

• Creative self-efficacy acts as a significant cognitive mechanism linking learning orientation and leadership styles to creative outcomes.
• Cultivating a learning-oriented culture and supportive leadership practices are vital for enhancing creativity in SMEs.
• The findings offer practical insights for managers aiming to boost innovation through psychological resources and effective leadership.