Competence Drives Interest or Vice Versa? An Investigation on the Bidirectional Relationships between Self-Efficacy and Intrinsic Motivation in Shaping Employee Creativity

Tingting CHEN; Tae-Yeol KIM; Yaping GONG; Yongyi LIANG

Competence Drives Interest or Vice Versa? An Investigation on the Bidirectional Relationships between Self-Efficacy and Intrinsic Motivation in Shaping Employee Creativity

Tingting CHEN
, Tae-Yeol KIM
, Yaping GONG
, Yongyi LIANG

Department of Management

Research output: Other contribution › Other outputs › Research

Abstract

What drives creativity in the workplace? Researchers have long debated the impact of two key factors: creative self-efficacy (believing you can be creative) and intrinsic motivation for creativity (wanting to be creative). But which comes first, or do they influence each other reciprocally?

Understanding the interrelationship between these factors isn’t just academic—it has real-world implications. Not every employee starts out highly confident or deeply motivated about being creative. Knowing which factor influences the other more can help managers make smarter decisions about hiring and how to encourage employee creativity.

Original language	English
Media of output	Blog post
Publisher	Durham University
Publication status	Published - 4 Jul 2024

Publication series

Name	Management Studies Insights Blog
Publisher	Journal of Management Studies, Durham Business School, Durham University

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

Access to Document

https://managementstudiesinsights.com/competence-drives-interest-or-vice-versa-an-investigation-on-the-bidirectional-relationships-between-self-efficacy-and-intrinsic-motivation-in-shaping-employee-creativity/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2Tl0nDL0KJ2Xir1qCD-9Bc53Mgvk5zUi5sIsdKglqp9BZzSr_NQuMEojE_aem_M-HZlsYQE0U45YWAh3w_8Q

Competence Drives Interest or Vice Versa? Untangling the Bidirectional Relationships between Creative Self‐Efficacy and Intrinsic Motivation for Creativity in Shaping Employee Creativity
CHEN, T., KIM, T., GONG, Y. & LIANG, Y., Mar 2025, In: Journal of Management Studies. 62, 2, p. 775-811 37 p.
Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

Open Access
15 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)

Cite this

CHEN, T., KIM, T.-Y., GONG, Y., & LIANG, Y. (2024, Jul 4). Competence Drives Interest or Vice Versa? An Investigation on the Bidirectional Relationships between Self-Efficacy and Intrinsic Motivation in Shaping Employee Creativity. Durham University. https://managementstudiesinsights.com/competence-drives-interest-or-vice-versa-an-investigation-on-the-bidirectional-relationships-between-self-efficacy-and-intrinsic-motivation-in-shaping-employee-creativity/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2Tl0nDL0KJ2Xir1qCD-9Bc53Mgvk5zUi5sIsdKglqp9BZzSr_NQuMEojE_aem_M-HZlsYQE0U45YWAh3w_8Q

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abstract = "What drives creativity in the workplace? Researchers have long debated the impact of two key factors: creative self-efficacy (believing you can be creative) and intrinsic motivation for creativity (wanting to be creative). But which comes first, or do they influence each other reciprocally? Understanding the interrelationship between these factors isn{\textquoteright}t just academic—it has real-world implications. Not every employee starts out highly confident or deeply motivated about being creative. Knowing which factor influences the other more can help managers make smarter decisions about hiring and how to encourage employee creativity.",

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CHEN, T, KIM, T-Y, GONG, Y & LIANG, Y 2024, Competence Drives Interest or Vice Versa? An Investigation on the Bidirectional Relationships between Self-Efficacy and Intrinsic Motivation in Shaping Employee Creativity. Durham University. <https://managementstudiesinsights.com/competence-drives-interest-or-vice-versa-an-investigation-on-the-bidirectional-relationships-between-self-efficacy-and-intrinsic-motivation-in-shaping-employee-creativity/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2Tl0nDL0KJ2Xir1qCD-9Bc53Mgvk5zUi5sIsdKglqp9BZzSr_NQuMEojE_aem_M-HZlsYQE0U45YWAh3w_8Q>

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AU - GONG, Yaping

AU - LIANG, Yongyi

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N2 - What drives creativity in the workplace? Researchers have long debated the impact of two key factors: creative self-efficacy (believing you can be creative) and intrinsic motivation for creativity (wanting to be creative). But which comes first, or do they influence each other reciprocally? Understanding the interrelationship between these factors isn’t just academic—it has real-world implications. Not every employee starts out highly confident or deeply motivated about being creative. Knowing which factor influences the other more can help managers make smarter decisions about hiring and how to encourage employee creativity.

AB - What drives creativity in the workplace? Researchers have long debated the impact of two key factors: creative self-efficacy (believing you can be creative) and intrinsic motivation for creativity (wanting to be creative). But which comes first, or do they influence each other reciprocally? Understanding the interrelationship between these factors isn’t just academic—it has real-world implications. Not every employee starts out highly confident or deeply motivated about being creative. Knowing which factor influences the other more can help managers make smarter decisions about hiring and how to encourage employee creativity.

M3 - Other outputs

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PB - Durham University

ER -

Competence Drives Interest or Vice Versa? An Investigation on the Bidirectional Relationships between Self-Efficacy and Intrinsic Motivation in Shaping Employee Creativity

Abstract

Publication series

UN SDGs

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Research output

Competence Drives Interest or Vice Versa? Untangling the Bidirectional Relationships between Creative Self‐Efficacy and Intrinsic Motivation for Creativity in Shaping Employee Creativity

Cite this