Employee Creativity and Motivation in the Chinese Context: The Moderating Role of Organizational Culture

Abstract

Based on hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) results, specific facets of culture influence service employees’ motivation and creativity. The theory of person—culture fit suggests that organizational culture moderates the relationship between employees’ intrinsic motivation and their creativity. The following three culture types are assessed in this study: innovative culture, traditional culture, and cooperative culture. The effect of these culture types on employees’ creativity is assessed using data obtained from fifty service and hospitality firms in the People’s Republic of China. The data reveal that innovative culture moderates the relationship between the need for achievement and creativity, traditional culture moderates the relationship between the need for power and creativity, and cooperative culture moderates the relationship between the need for affiliation and creativity. This article shows that a good person—culture fit plays a significant role in predicting employee creativity. For managers, the implication is to be aware of corporate culture and match employees’ motivations accordingly. In addition, managers need to identify and assist employees who feel stifled by the corporate culture.