The impact of person-organization fit on innovative work behavior

PURPOSE: The direct relationship between person-organization (P-O) fit and employee's positive work attitudes and behaviours have been well researched. However, there has been no study on the impact of P-O fit on innovative work behaviour (IWB) of the nurses. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap in the literature. In order to give a complete understanding of the psychology surrounding P-O fit, this study has longitudinally analysed the relationship between P-O fit and IWB along with the impact of a potential mediator, i.e. knowledge sharing behaviour (KSB) on this relationship. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A total of 357 nurses and 71 doctors from three government hospitals of Thailand filled out the questionnaires. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the relationships. FINDINGS: Results of the study indicate that a nurse's P-O fit is positively associated with both self and doctor ratings of innovative behaviours; and KSB acts as a partial mediator between P-O fit and IWB at both Times 1 and 2. These results imply that a nurse's perceived fit in the hospital impacts his/her engagement into IWB. As nurses share knowledge with their co-workers frequently, it tends to strengthen the relationship between P-O fit and IWB. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Study findings begin to explain how P-O fit impacts IWB of nurses. Specifically, the author find that KSB explains the relationship between P-O fit and IWB.