Abstract: With the increasing penetration of algorithms into traditional management processes, how to stimulate and protect employee creativity has become an urgent topic for in-depth research. However, existing research cannot answer the question of why employees exhibit different behaviors and exhibit differentiated levels of creativity under algorithmic management. Based on the self-determination theory, this paper constructs a dual-path model of the influence of algorithmic management on employee creativity from the perspective of employee active control, and explores the influence of algorithmic management on employee creativity and the role of employee self-leadership in this process. The results show that both approach crafting and avoidance crafting play a mediating role between algorithmic management and employee creativity. When employees have a higher level of self-leadership, the indirect effect of algorithmic management on creativity through approach crafting is stronger, while the indirect effect of avoidance crafting on creativity is weaker. The research elucidate the dual path effect of algorithmic management and employee creativity gain and loss, which is of great significance for enterprises to activate employee creativity by rational use of algorithmic management.

Key words: algorithmic management, approach-avoidance crafting, self-leadership, employee creativity, self-determination theory