The document summarizes research on the relationship between work pressure and employee creativity, and the potential moderating role of resources. It finds that consideration, defined as a leader's support and concern for subordinates, moderates the relationship such that pressure is positively associated with creativity when consideration is high. Initiating structure, defined as a leader's emphasis on task accomplishment, moderates the relationship such that pressure is negatively associated with creativity when initiating structure is high. A three-way interaction shows that pressure is positively associated with creativity under high consideration and low initiating structure.

1. The moderating effects of resources on
the relationship between work pressure
and employee creativity
“Paradoxes in Creativity Research” PDW at AoM 2012, Boston
Darja Gutnick

2. Research shows contradicting findings
creativity!
Byron, Khazanchi, & Nazarian,
2010!
work pressure!

3. Research shows contradicting findings
creativity!
e.g. Baer & Oldham, 2006!
Byron, Khazanchi, & Nazarian,
2010!
work pressure!

4. Research shows contradicting findings
creativity! Gutnick, Nijstad, Walter, De Dreu, 2012
e.g. Baer & Oldham, 2006!
Byron, Khazanchi, & Nazarian,
2010!
work pressure!

5. Possible explanation: moderation through resources
Gutnick, Walter, Nijstad, De Dreu, 2012
Stimulus Psychological states Behaviour Outcome
Challenge Flexibility
+ + +
Pressure resources
-
+ Creativity
+ + +
Threat Persistence
commitment

6. We tested the resources moderation effect in the field
field study with N = 171 employees, the Netherlands
IVs Moderators DV
initiating structure
(IS) and
consideration
emotional
demands creativity
work load

7. We expected diff. effects of consideration and IS
expected effects with initiating structure and consideration
2 - way interactions:
Consideration moderates the relationship between work pressure and employee creativity in a way that this relation is
positive when consideration is high.
Initiating structure moderates the relationship between work pressure and employee creativity in a way that it is
negative when initiating structure is high.
3 - way interactions:
Initiating structure moderates the relationship between work pressure and employee creativity in a way that under higher high consideration
initiating structure is low
and high initiating structure employees show lower creative performance. When
and consideration is high, pressure is associated with high levels of
creativity.

8. Consideration acts as a resource for creativity under
pressure, but only when IS is low
3-way interaction: effects of pressure on creativity moderated by consideration and IS
work load emotional demands
B = - 0,203; SE = 0,10 p < 0.10 B = - 0,294; SE = 0,10; p < 0.05
low IS low IS
low C
C low C
high C
C high C
low WL high WL low ED high ED
high IS high IS
low C low C
high C high C
low WL high WL low ED high ED

9. First indication for validity, but needs further exploration
Gutnick, Walter, Nijstad, De Dreu, 2012
Stimulus Psychological states Behaviour Outcome
Challenge Flexibility
+ + +
Pressure resources
-
+ Creativity
+ + +
Threat Persistence
commitment

10. For questions or remarks...
contact details
email: darja.gutnick@gmail.com
twitter: @sweetkdakini
www.sweetdakini.com

11. BACK-UP

12. Pressure-Creativity Studies in the Literature
negative positive not classified / depends on
relationship relationship no effect moderators
Chirumbolo et al. (2004) Ohly & Fritz (2010) Mumford, Baughman, Baer & Oldham (2006)
Ocker (2005) Ohly, Sonnentag & Supinski & Maher (2006) Hsu & Fan (2010)
Madjar & Oldham (2006) Pluntke (2006) Gracia, Caballer, Piero Moreau & Dahl (2005)
Andrews & Farris (1972) (2002) Antes & Mumford (2009)
Styhre (2010)
Blair & Mumford (2007) Bechtold, De Dreu,
Johns, Morse & Morse Nijstad, Hoon-Seok
(2000) NO EFFECT (2010)
Morse, Morse & Johns Amabile, Hadley &
(2001) Kramer(2002)
Lin et al. (2010)
Subramanian & Ganesan
(1982)
Andrews&Smith (1996)
Kelly&Karau (1993)
Khatena (1972, 1973)