Abstract
By integrating social network theory and leader–member exchange (LMX) theory, we explore the effects of three types of social relationships on employee innovative behavior: weak ties outside the group, LMX, and strong ties within the group. The results from a sample in a high‐tech firm showed that LMX fully mediated the positive relationship between out‐group weak ties and innovative behavior. Furthermore, within‐group strong ties negatively moderated the second stage of this indirect relationship, such that LMX was positively and significantly related to innovative behavior only when the number of within‐group strong ties was low. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 403-420 |
Journal | Journal of Organizational Behavior |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 25 Jan 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 30 Apr 2015 |
Keywords
- Innovative behavior
- Social network
- Leader-member exchange