Impacts of workplace spirituality on innovative work behaviour: moderated-mediating effect of organizational silence and intra-organizational networks

Abstract

Innovative work behaviours require not only an individual’s intrinsic motivation but also a supportive organisational culture. However, in most Korean organisations, employees can often be seen as silent due to hierarchical or top-down organisational culture. Since workplace spirituality has been identified to be positively related to intrinsic motivation, this study examined the impact of workplace spirituality on organisational silence and innovative work behaviour. Besides, based on a social network perspective, we explored the effect of organisational social networks on the relationship between workplace spirituality, organisational silence, and innovative work behaviour. A survey was conducted with 242 employees in four companies. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify the six hypotheses of this study. The results showed that workplace spirituality has a positive effect on innovative work behaviour. The indirect effect of workplace spirituality on innovative work behaviour via organisational silence was significant. Advice networks did not have significant moderated-mediating effects, while friendship networks were significant. This study contributed to supporting the role of workplace spirituality as a motivational factor that reduces organisational silence and increases innovative work behaviour. HRD practitioners should support employees to develop their workplace spirituality and be aware of organisational silence for innovative work.