Abstract

Drawing on the insights from self-determination theory, this study explored the psychological mechanism of employees’ innovative work behavior and examined whether this psychological mechanism is universal or cultural value specific. Specifically, I investigated how the three basic psychological needs influence employees’ innovative work behavior, taking cultural values measured at the individual level into consideration. The current study was conducted at two large Chinese medical equipment and supply companies using survey methodology. A sample of 284 employees was obtained from both R&D and functional departments. Results showed that satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs are respectively positively related to employees’ innovative work behavior. Second, a positive relationship between autonomous motivation and innovative work behavior was found. In addition, my empirical research also provided evidence that autonomous motivation partially mediates the relationship between satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs and innovative work behavior. In terms of the influences of individual cultural values, I found that power distance orientation negatively moderates the positive relationship between autonomous motivation and innovative work behavior. More specifically, the indirect effects of satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs on innovative work behavior through autonomous motivation are weakened when employees’ power distance orientation is high. Implications for theory, research, and practice are discussed.