Regulatory focus and innovative work behavior: The role of work engagement

For successful innovations, identifying and facilitating goal-orientations of the workforce is of vital importance in the present day competitive organizational scenario. This study deepens the understanding that innovative work behavior (IWB) of an employee is facilitated by both promotion and prevention foci. Drawing insights from the regulatory focus (RF) theory we have developed and tested a model involving the motivational dynamics of work engagement (WE) in the relationship between regulatory focus (RF) and IWB. Structural equation modeling analysis of responses from 603 information technology (IT) employees in India confirmed the partial mediation effect of WE between promotion focus and IWB. A full mediation effect of WE between prevention focus and IWB was also established. The data model exhibited a good fit. The results help in establishing the role of WE in contributing to IWB of employees who are either promotion or prevention focused. Scope for future research and implications of the results are discussed.