Employee Creative Idea Generation: The Interactive Effects of Idea Implementation, Attachment, and Psychological Safety

Greg R. Oldham
A. B. Freeman School of Business, Tulane University

Nancy Da Silva
College of Business, San Jose State University

Oldham, G. R. & Da Silva, N. (2016). Employee creative idea generation: The interactive effects of idea implementation, attachment, and psychological safety. Business Creativity and the Creative Economy, 2(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.18536/bcce.2016.10.2.1.01

Abstract

This study examined the effects of the implementation of employees’ early ideas on their later idea generation. Using data obtained from 76 employees at three points in time, results showed a positive relationship between the number of ideas employees generated at Time 1 (T1) and the number generated at Time 3 (T3) if none of their early (T1) ideas had been implemented in the organization. Results also showed that employees’ attachment to the organization and psychological safety amplified this effect. There was a strong, positive relationship between the numbers of ideas employees generated at T1 and T3 if they had no early ideas adopted and (a) felt psychologically safe or (b) were detached from the organization. We discuss the implications of these findings for future research and practice.