Motivations for Employee Creativity: The Mixed Moderating Role of Prosocial Motivation

Abstract

This study investigates the indirect relationship between job autonomy and creativity through creative self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation, and is based on the motivational theory of creativity. It suggests that intrinsic motivation and creative self-efficacy positively influence creativity. Additionally, prosocial motivation’s mixed moderating role is tested in this study. The results demonstrate that job autonomy directly promotes intrinsic motivation and creative self-efficacy and indirectly influences employee creativity through intrinsic motivation and creative self-efficacy, based on survey data from 323 employees in the information technology industry. In decreasing order, creative self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, and prosocial motivation-the three main motivations-all have a favorable impact on creativity. Furthermore, the impact of creative self-efficacy on creativity is reinforced by prosocial drive. Prosocial drive, however, has no moderating effect on the connection between intrinsic motivation and employee creativity.