Effects of Superior–Subordinate Guanxi on Employee Innovative Behavior: The Role of Follower Dependency and Work Passion

Abstract

In the face of an increasingly complex competitive environment, a company’s ability to innovate is the key to a gaining sustainable competitive advantage. As the cornerstone of an organization’s survival and development, employee innovative behavior is key to enhancing an organization’s innovative capability. Based on a conservation of resources, this study investigates the mechanism of the role of superior–subordinate guanxi on employees’ innovative behavior from both emotional and cognitive perspectives. Through the analysis of 305 full-time employees’ research data, the results show that superior–subordinate guanxi can promote employees’ innovative behavior by stimulating their work passion and reducing their dependence on superiors. Our research provides certain theoretical guidance and policy recommendations for enterprises to improve the innovation ability of employees by revealing the internal mechanism of superior–subordinate guanxi affecting the innovation behavior of employees.