Analysis of creativity at the workplace through employee empowerment

Abstract

Purpose Creativity is widely recognized as a key driver of innovation and competitive advantage in today’s dynamic business landscape. As organizations strive to foster a culture of innovation, it becomes imperative to understand the factors that enhance creativity among employees. This study aims to explore the role of employee empowerment in promoting creativity at the workplace. Design/methodology/approach This study used empowerment measures to determine the impact of employee empowerment on employee creativity. Creativity was also measured based on constructs reviewed in literature. An online questionnaire survey was conducted among 170 faculty members of different private universities of Bangladesh. The sample was chosen based on a convenience method. The responses were analyzed using partial least square (PLS) approach with the help of software SmartPLS. Findings This study comes to the conclusion that employee empowerment plays a crucial role as a forerunner to creativity at work. The configuration process is mostly accelerated and facilitated by university officials. Research limitations/implications Because they are statistically significant in establishing a climate for employee creativity at work, it is necessary to empirically determine the percentage impact level of the constructs of employee engagement known as “Leadership and Organizational Culture” and “Internal and External Enhancement Factors.” In addition, employee engagement is not the sole element influencing creativity at work. This suggests the need to quantify the relative influence that employee engagement has on other workplace drivers of creativity and innovation. Practical implications This study will help university authorities to instill management development programs to enhance their understanding about employees’ different psychological needs and expectations. Moreover, university management can find ways to implement various teacher development programs to promote growth mindset among the teachers. Organizations can leverage these insights to design and implement strategies that empower employees, leading to a more innovative and adaptable workforce. Social implications The implications of this research extend beyond individual organizations to society as a whole, as fostering creativity has broader implications for economic growth, productivity and overall well-being. By nurturing employee empowerment, organizations can not only enhance their competitive advantage but also contribute to societal progress through the generation of novel ideas, products and services. Originality/value This study was conducted on the private university faculty members to understand how the empowerment works in imparting creativity. The context of this study was educational institutions in contrast to the commercial organizations.