Developmental human resource and exploitative leadership interact to influence Employees' creative idea championing and application

Based on the human resource development (HRD) literature, this study considers HR system and leadership together, focusing on how to promote employees to champion and apply creative ideas. Based on multi‐wave and multilevel field survey data of 252 Chinese employees nested in 42 groups, Study 1 found that developmental HR and exploitative leadership interact to influence creative idea championing and application via reciprocated obligation. The positive effects of developmental HR on creative idea championing and application were stronger and significant when exploitative leadership was lower (vs. higher), and reciprocated obligation mediated these effects. Study 2 replicated these findings with a scenario experimental design utilizing a sample of 186 MBA students from different companies. Our findings remind supervisors that they should not use exploitative leadership as it will reduce the positive effects of developmental HR, providing unique insights into HRD theory and practice.