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CSR and Workplace Autonomy as Enablers of Workplace Innovation in SMEs through Employees: Extending the Boundary Conditions of Self-Determination Theory

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  • Beili Li

    (Public Management Institute, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China)

  • Xu Fan

    (Public Management Institute, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China)

  • Susana Álvarez-Otero

    (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain)

  • Muhammad Safdar Sial

    (Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Ubaldo Comite

    (Department of Business Sciences, University Giustino Fortunato, 82100 Benevento, Italy)

  • Jacob Cherian

    (College of Business, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 59911, United Arab Emirates)

  • László Vasa

    (Management Campus, Széchenyi István University, 9026 Győr, Hungary)

Abstract

The current business environment characterized by high uncertainty, volatility, and stiff situation of competitiveness that is evident in almost every sector has increased the importance of workplace innovation for contemporary businesses. In this regard, a considerable attention in realizing employees of an organization as a source of innovation is not evident from the existing literature. In this aspect, the current study is an attempt to foster workplace innovation through employees in the SME sector of an emerging economy. In doing so, the authors propose that corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of an SME, along with workplace autonomy, are helpful in creating an environment at the workplace that fosters innovative employee behavior (IEB). Furthermore, the current study also extends the boundary condition of the theory of self-determination by arguing that this theory provides a comprehensive framework to explain employees’ motivation for workplace innovation. The data of the current survey was obtained from the SME sector situated in two large cities of a developing country through a self-administered questionnaire which was then analyzed through structural-equation-modeling (SEM) using the AMOS software. The results confirmed that CSR directly relates to IEB and workplace autonomy mediates this relationship. The study also discusses the implications of this survey for theory and practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Beili Li & Xu Fan & Susana Álvarez-Otero & Muhammad Safdar Sial & Ubaldo Comite & Jacob Cherian & László Vasa, 2021. "CSR and Workplace Autonomy as Enablers of Workplace Innovation in SMEs through Employees: Extending the Boundary Conditions of Self-Determination Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6104-:d:564547
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    1. Zhongqiu Li & Caiquan Duan & Zhuo Lyu & Xin Xu, 2021. "Why and When Supervisor Developmental Feedback Impact Innovative Behavior: Perspective of Self-Regulation Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-14, August.
    2. Małgorzata Okręglicka & Prabhat Mittal & Valentinas Navickas, 2023. "Exploring the Mechanisms Linking Perceived Organizational Support, Autonomy, Risk Taking, Competitive Aggressiveness and Corporate Sustainability: The Mediating Role of Innovativeness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Pasricha, Palvi & Nivedhitha, K.S. & Raghuvanshi, Juhi, 2023. "The perceived CSR-innovative behavior conundrum: Towards unlocking the socio-emotional black box," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    4. Peter Karacsony & Kornél Krupánszki & Imrich Antalík, 2022. "Analysis of the Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on the Hungarian Employees," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-14, February.
    5. Ayman Alshaabani & Farheen Naz & Róbert Magda & Ildikó Rudnák, 2021. "Impact of Perceived Organizational Support on OCB in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic in Hungary: Employee Engagement and Affective Commitment as Mediators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-21, July.
    6. Deepa Sharma & Suman Chakraborty & Ashwath Ananda Rao & Lumen Shawn Lobo, 2023. "The Relationship of Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Performance: A Bibliometric Overview," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, March.

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