The Influence of Empowering Leadership on R&D Employees’ Creative Behavior via Promotion Focus: The Moderating Role of Professional Orientation

This study empirically examines the process through which empowering leadership influences the creative behavior of R&D employees, taking into account the organizational context of government-funded research institutes and the unique characteristics of R&D employees. Analysis of data collected from 166 R&D employees working in government-funded science and technology research institutes yielded the following results: First, empowering leadership had a significant positive effect on creative behavior. Second, empowering leadership had a significant positive effect on promotion focus. Third, promotion focus had a significant positive effect on creative behavior. Fourth, promotion focus significantly mediated the relationship between empowering leadership and creative behavior. Finally, R&D employees’ professional orientation significantly moderated the relationship between promotion focus and creative behavior and the mediating effect of promotion focus on the relationship between empowering leadership and creative behavior. By integrating individual characteristics and contextual factors influencing R&D employees’ creativity, this study contributes to both theoretical advancement and practical application in the field of organizational behavior and innovation management.