Proactive and innovative work behavior: exploring organizational antecedents

Abstract

Purpose: The main objective of this study is to analyse the positive relationship that may exist between the variables of organizational context and employees’ behaviours. Through the theoretical background supporting a series of proposals, it is discussed how the innovative climate in organizations, together with the entrepreneurial orientation, influence employees positively and lead them to reveal both proactive behaviours in companies. Design/Methodology: In order to achieve the above, we propose a research model based on a theoretical background clarifying and revealing context variables, in addition to certain sort of behaviour that might be shown by employees in organizations. We propose to contrast the relationship of these contextual variables and the type of behaviour, through a number of surveys addressed to employees and managers (CEO and CTO) from both new technology-based companies and companies oriented to the services sector, In short, we will compare one with another. Findings: Our study results seem not to be the expected, since it was thought that high levels of proactivity and innovation were historically exclusively predominant in new technology-based companies. The results show that both innovation climates and entrepreneurial orientation are high in both companies, promoting the consequent proactive and innovative behaviour of the workers. On the other hand, the vision of the CEO in both companies, does not always coincide with the point of view of the workers.