The Impact of Supervisor Gender on Employee Creativity and the Mediating Role of Interaction Frequency

Authors

  • Holly Chadwick Department of Management, Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA
  • Isil Yavuz Department of Management, Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA
  • Crystal Jiang Department of Management, Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA
  • Elzotbek Rustambekov Department of Management, Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55482/jcim.2024.34305

Keywords:

employee creativity, interaction frequency, leader gender, exchange theory, social sole theory, China

Abstract

While it is well established that leader characteristics influence employee outcomes, little is known about whether and how leader gender influences employee creativity. Traditionally, female leaders are considered a mismatch for prototypical leadership roles, resulting in less optimal employee outcomes than male leaders. In this paper, drawing on social role and leader-member exchange theories, we argue that female supervisors may have advantages over male supervisors and may serve as a catalyst to encourage employee creativity. In the empirical analyses, we test our hypotheses using data from German, Japanese, and South Korean foreign
subsidiaries in China. Results confirm our hypotheses and contribute to creativity and innovation literature by demonstrating that female supervisors positively influence employee creativity, challenging traditional gender role stereotypes in leadership. Additionally, it highlights the mediating role of supervisor-employee interaction frequency in enhancing creative outcomes, providing important insights for organizational practices and leadership development.

Author Biographies

Holly Chadwick, Department of Management, Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA

Holly Chadwick (BS, Bryant University) is a Global Planning Analysts at Hasbro. She is a graduate of the Honors Program at Bryant University where she majored in International Business and Leadership and Innovation Management. She is interested in the role of gender for innovation outcomes across different localities. 

Isil Yavuz, Department of Management, Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA

R. Isil Yavuz (PhD, University of Minnesota) is an Assistant Professor of Management and the Director of the Entrepreneurship Program at Bryant University. Her research focuses on the interactive role of entrepreneurial characteristics and context in internationalization and innovation of young companies. Her work has so far been published in the  Journal of Business of Venturing (JBV), Small Business Economics (SBE), Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice (ET&P), Journal of Small Business Management (JSBM) and others. 

Crystal Jiang, Department of Management, Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA

Crystal Jiang (PhD, Temple University) is a Professor of Management at Bryant University. Her research focuses on firms originating from emerging economies in capability-building, Innovation strategy, and
cross-cultural management. Her research work has appeared in the management and international business journals, including the Journal of Management (JOM), Journal of International Business Studies (JIBS), Journal of International Management (JIM), Journal of World Business (JWB), Asia Pacific Journal of Management (APJM), Oxford Handbook of International Business, and others. Dr. Jiang is an Executive Board Member for the Academy of International Business Northeast Chapter and has been the past President. 

Elzotbek Rustambekov, Department of Management, Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA

Elzotbek Rustambekov (PhD, Old Dominion University) is an Associate Professor of Management and Chair of the Management Department at Bryant University. His research contributions have been featured in esteemed journals, including Long Range Planning, Business Horizons, Managerial and Decision Economics, Journal of Business Strategies, Accounting and Taxation among many others. Dr. Rustambekov’s research streams encompass a diverse array of management-related subjects, like risk, dynamic capabilities, and cultural intelligence, reflecting a dedication to advancing knowledge in areas that span the worlds of academia and practical application.

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Published

2024-12-18

How to Cite

Chadwick, H., Yavuz, I., Jiang, C., & Rustambekov, E. (2024). The Impact of Supervisor Gender on Employee Creativity and the Mediating Role of Interaction Frequency. Journal of Comparative International Management, 27(2), 197–113. https://doi.org/10.55482/jcim.2024.34305

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 2 (2024)

Section

Research Articles

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