I-Deals and Employee Creativity: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective

Drawing from self-determination theory, this study examines the mechanisms through which idiosyncratic deals (“i-deals”) influence the important workplace outcome of employee creativity. We propose a moderated mediation model where developmental and flexibility i-deals interact to affect employee creativity by influencing employees’ experience of personal control at work. Moreover, we propose that job complexity moderates the relationship between personal control and employee creativity. Our hypothesized model was supported with multi-wave data collected from 529 employees in 89 teams in China. We found a significant positive effect of developmental i-deals on employee creativity through personal control. This indirect effect of developmental i-deals on employee creativity (via personal control) was stronger and more positive when flexibility i-deals were higher and job complexity was lower. Our findings provide implications regarding both the impact of i-deals on work outcomes and ways to foster employee...