The impact of psychological empowerment on innovative work behavior: a moderated mediation model of informal learning and proactive behavior

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relationship between psychological empowerment (PE) and innovative work behavior (IWB) through the mediating mechanism of informal learning (IL) and the moderating role of proactive behavior. Based on conservation resource theory, a moderated mediation model was tested on a sample of 323 employees of Pakistan’s small services firms. The results reveal that psychological empowerment indirectly affects innovative work behaviour through informal learning and that the indirect effect of PE on IWB through informal learning is stronger at high levels of proactive behaviour. This study contributes to the literature by examining the mediating role of informal learning between PE and IWB with the moderating effect of proactive behaviour. Finally, this study presents theoretical and practical implications based on analytical results.