Creative self-efficacy and individual creativity in team contexts: cross-level interactions with team informational resources

J Appl Psychol. 2012 Nov;97(6):1282-90. doi: 10.1037/a0029359. Epub 2012 Jul 16.

Abstract

We propose a cross-level perspective on the relation between creative self-efficacy and individual creativity in which team informational resources, comprising both shared "knowledge of who knows what" (KWKW) and functional background diversity, benefit the creativity of individuals more with higher creative self-efficacy. To test our hypotheses, we conducted a multi-level study with 176 employees working in 34 research and development teams of a multinational company in 4 countries. In support of our hypotheses, the link between creative self-efficacy and individual creativity was more positive with greater shared KWKW, and this interactive effect was pronounced for teams of high rather than low functional background diversity. We discuss implications for the study of creative self-efficacy in team contexts.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cooperative Behavior*
  • Creativity*
  • Group Processes*
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Models, Statistical
  • Professional Competence
  • Self Efficacy*
  • Task Performance and Analysis