Dissertation
A darker side to creativity: how can employees with a fear-of-failure be more creative?
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Drexel University
Mar 2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00001571
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to understand how employees can utilize their goal orientations (avoid, learn, & prove) to be more creative. Corporations covet employees with creativity to not only solve complex problems but deliver novel concepts, ideas, products, and services. Past studies address the relationships between goal orientations (avoid, learn, & prove) and creativity (Hirst et al., 2011; Hirst et al., 2009). The scholarly literature also showed that individuals with a low performance-avoidance goal orientation cultivated more creative outputs in higher risk conditions (Simmons & Ren, 2009). Yet, there were underdeveloped aspects to the scholarly literature related to goal orientations (avoid, learn, & prove) and creativity. This dissertation builds upon the prior research (Hirst et al., 2011; Hirst et al., 2009; Simmons & Ren, 2009) using psychological empowerment, a willingness to take risks, and the leadership (empowering, directive, & visionary) employees receive from their managers. Moreover, this dissertation added non-punitive climate as an environmental influence to the research around creativity. Learning goal orientation was positively related to willingness to take risks and willingness to take risks was positively related to creativity. Additional analysis revealed willingness to take risks mediated the relationship between learning goal orientation and creativity. Non-punitive climate moderated performance-avoidance goal orientation and creativity mediated by willingness to take risks when non-punitive climate was low. Non-punitive climate also moderated performance-avoidance goal orientation and willingness to take risks when non-punitive climate was low. Empowering leadership moderated the relationship between learning goal orientation and creativity when empowering leadership was low or at the mean. Empowering leadership also moderated performance-prove goal orientation and creativity when empowering leadership was high. Finally, visionary leadership moderated learning goal orientation and psychological empowerment when visionary leadership was high or at the mean.
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Details
- Title
- A darker side to creativity
- Creators
- Peter J. Gabriel
- Contributors
- Lauren D'Innocenzo (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xii, 236 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Bennett S. LeBow College of Business; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991020231114604721