The Inverted U-shaped Relationship between Fun Activities and Employees' Innovative Behavior——Based on the Role of Work Engagement and Job Autonomy

Abstract

Abstract: Although companies pay more attention to the positive role of fun activities in the workplace, the influencing mechanism of fun activities is still not explored deeply, and controversies still exist among different researches. Based on conservation of resource theory, this study explores the mechanism of how fun activities influence employees' innovative behavior, especially the instantaneous mediating role of work engagement and the moderating effect of job autonomy, thus providing a broader perspective to understanding the nonlinear relationship between fun activities and employees' job attitude and behavior from a new point of view. Results from 3-phase time-lagged supervisor-employees matched data show that:1) Fun activities have an inverted U-shaped relationship with employees' work engagement and innovative behavior; 2) Work engagement plays an instantaneous mediating role between fun activities and employees' innovative behavior; 3) Job autonomy moderates the relationship between fun activities and work engagement, and the mediating effect of work engagement. The results provide insights into the divergence between fun activities and employees' innovative behavior in extant literature, and put forward suggestions for managers on how to properly organize fun activities in the workplace.

Key words: fun activities, employees' innovative behavior, work engagement, job autonomy, conservation of resource theory

Yang Jie, Wu Maojuan, Huang Yong. The Inverted U-shaped Relationship between Fun Activities and Employees' Innovative Behavior——Based on the Role of Work Engagement and Job Autonomy[J]. Management Review, 2023, 35(8): 255-267.

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