Abstract:

While studies on innovation capabilities have been quite extensively reported in the literature, very few have attempted to examine the relationship between knowledge characteristics and innovation capabilities at the individual level perspective. Inspired by this research gap, this study examined knowledge characteristics, which are part of work design, on innovative work behavior (IWB). The research model along with hypotheses are developed from the literature and tested based on the data collected through a survey of officers working with the Malaysian federal government. The results suggest that three out of five knowledge characteristics, namely, job complexity, information processing and problem solving are significant predictors of innovative work behavior. The study did not find any support on the relationship between skill variety, specialization and innovative work behavior. This study has contributed to the body of knowledge from both theoretical and practical perspectives and should capture the interest of the researchers and practitioners.