Factors influencing innovative work behavior among teachers in the higher education sectors in China: The role of work engagement as a mediator and artificial intelligence as a moderator
The modernization of Chinese higher education relies heavily on fostering innovative work behavior (IWB) among university teachers. However, the crucial role of non-intellectual and external factors has often been overlooked, contributing to insufficient innovative outcomes. Drawing on self-determin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Acta Psychologica |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825005451 |
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| author | Yifan Zhou Ramayah Thurasamy Rosmelisa Yusof Peng Zhang Xiaojuan Li Shengkai Ling |
| author_facet | Yifan Zhou Ramayah Thurasamy Rosmelisa Yusof Peng Zhang Xiaojuan Li Shengkai Ling |
| author_sort | Yifan Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The modernization of Chinese higher education relies heavily on fostering innovative work behavior (IWB) among university teachers. However, the crucial role of non-intellectual and external factors has often been overlooked, contributing to insufficient innovative outcomes. Drawing on self-determination theory and social exchange theory, this study develops a research model where career calling (CC) and talent policy (TP) serve as independent variables, IWB as the dependent variable, work engagement (WE) as a mediating variable, and artificial intelligence (AI) as a moderating variable to explore effective ways to stimulate IWB. The authors conducted a two-wave online questionnaire survey among 252 university teachers in China, analyzing the data using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that CC and TP are significantly associated with WE, which, in turn, positively influences IWB. Moreover, AI acts as a moderating variable, strengthening the relationship between WE and IWB. This study makes valuable contributions to the literature on IWB, enriches the theoretical foundations of CC andTP in higher education contexts, and offers practical recommendations for leveraging AI strategies within the sector. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a6feffb547634b32b964a8151bc164b8 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 0001-6918 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Psychologica |
| spelling | doaj-art-a6feffb547634b32b964a8151bc164b82025-07-23T05:23:05ZengElsevierActa Psychologica0001-69182025-08-01258105232Factors influencing innovative work behavior among teachers in the higher education sectors in China: The role of work engagement as a mediator and artificial intelligence as a moderatorYifan Zhou0Ramayah Thurasamy1Rosmelisa Yusof2Peng Zhang3Xiaojuan Li4Shengkai Ling5Wenzhou Polytechnic, Wenzhou 325035, China; School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, MalaysiaSchool of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia; Department of Management, Sunway Business School (SBS), 47500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Information Technology & Management, Daffodil International University, Birulia, Bangladesh; University Center for Research & Development (UCRD), Chandigarh University, 140413, Punjab, India; Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia (UI), Depok City, West Java 16424, Indonesia; Faculty of Business, Sohar University, P.C 311 Sohar, Oman; School of Business, The University of Jordan (UJ), Amman, 11942, Jordan; Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), Technology Park, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaSchool of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, MalaysiaSchool of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia; School of Management, Zhengzhou Business University, Zhengzhou 451200, ChinaWenzhou University of Technology, Wenzhou 325035, China; Corresponding author.Ningbo University of Finance and Economics, Ningbo 315175, ChinaThe modernization of Chinese higher education relies heavily on fostering innovative work behavior (IWB) among university teachers. However, the crucial role of non-intellectual and external factors has often been overlooked, contributing to insufficient innovative outcomes. Drawing on self-determination theory and social exchange theory, this study develops a research model where career calling (CC) and talent policy (TP) serve as independent variables, IWB as the dependent variable, work engagement (WE) as a mediating variable, and artificial intelligence (AI) as a moderating variable to explore effective ways to stimulate IWB. The authors conducted a two-wave online questionnaire survey among 252 university teachers in China, analyzing the data using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that CC and TP are significantly associated with WE, which, in turn, positively influences IWB. Moreover, AI acts as a moderating variable, strengthening the relationship between WE and IWB. This study makes valuable contributions to the literature on IWB, enriches the theoretical foundations of CC andTP in higher education contexts, and offers practical recommendations for leveraging AI strategies within the sector.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825005451Career callingTalent policyWork engagementInnovative work behaviorArtificial intelligence |
| spellingShingle | Yifan Zhou Ramayah Thurasamy Rosmelisa Yusof Peng Zhang Xiaojuan Li Shengkai Ling Factors influencing innovative work behavior among teachers in the higher education sectors in China: The role of work engagement as a mediator and artificial intelligence as a moderator Acta Psychologica Career calling Talent policy Work engagement Innovative work behavior Artificial intelligence |
| title | Factors influencing innovative work behavior among teachers in the higher education sectors in China: The role of work engagement as a mediator and artificial intelligence as a moderator |
| title_full | Factors influencing innovative work behavior among teachers in the higher education sectors in China: The role of work engagement as a mediator and artificial intelligence as a moderator |
| title_fullStr | Factors influencing innovative work behavior among teachers in the higher education sectors in China: The role of work engagement as a mediator and artificial intelligence as a moderator |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors influencing innovative work behavior among teachers in the higher education sectors in China: The role of work engagement as a mediator and artificial intelligence as a moderator |
| title_short | Factors influencing innovative work behavior among teachers in the higher education sectors in China: The role of work engagement as a mediator and artificial intelligence as a moderator |
| title_sort | factors influencing innovative work behavior among teachers in the higher education sectors in china the role of work engagement as a mediator and artificial intelligence as a moderator |
| topic | Career calling Talent policy Work engagement Innovative work behavior Artificial intelligence |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825005451 |
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