Does diversity management foster innovative work behavior?

Key finding of the study

This paper addresses the black box concerning how workforce diversity management contributes to innovative work behavior by investigating this process through employees’ affective commitment and firm HR policies.

Authors      

Tajeddini K., Sheffield Hallam University, UK and Tokyo International University, Japan

Budur T., Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq

Gamage T.C., Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

Demir A., Ishik University, Sulaimani, Iraq

Zaim H., American University of the Middle East, Egaila, Kuwait

Topal R., Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq

Summary of the study

Grounded in social exchange and institutional theories, this paper investigates the effect of diversity management on employees’ innovative work behavior (IWB) through human resource management (HRM) and affective commitment (AC). Data were collected from 358 employees of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The hypothesized model has been evaluated using structural equation modeling. Findings suggest that workforce diversity management directly and significantly affected HRM and AC. Furthermore, findings revealed that HRM significantly influenced both employees’ IWB and AC, while AC significantly positively influenced IWB. Moreover, concerning the indirect effects, AC and HRM significantly mediated the relationship between DM and employees’ IWB.

Published in

Journal of Management Development (Emerging Sources Citation Index, CiteScore: 5.2)

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