Abstract
This research examined psychological mechanism behind Innovative Work
behavior (IWB) of knowledge workers through a moderated mediation model for
answering how efficacy beliefs of individuals affect their innovative work
behavior, and how organizational context is contingent upon it by influencing
ambidextrous behavior of individuals. Data were collected from white collar
employees in pharmaceutical sector (N = 308). Empirical results indicate that
individual ambidexterity mediates the link between self-efficacy and Innovative
Work Behavior, and formalization weakens the relationship between Individual
ambidexterity and IWB. This research contributes to the personnel management
literature by describing moderated mediation mechanism through which selfefficacy influences Innovative Work behavior, and guides practitioners by
emphasizing that employees will be more innovative when they are given less
formalized work environment to cope with conflicting activities needed for
innovation
