Innovative Work Behaviour in Local Government: Innovation Process and Gender Differences

https://doi.org/10.22146/jkap.101329

I Putu Yoga Bumi Pradana(1*), Laurensius Petrus Sayrani(2), Theny Intan Berlian Kurniati Pah(3), Nadia Sasmita Wijayanti(4), Boni Saputra(5), Jacobus Cliff Diky Rijoly(6)

(1) Universitas Nusa Cendana
(2) Department of Public Administration, Universitas Nusa Cendana
(3) Department of Public Administration, Universitas Nusa Cendana
(4) Department of Management, Universitas Nusa Cendana
(5) Department of Public Administration, Universitas Negeri Padang
(6) Department of Public Administration, University of Kentucky
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


This research aims to identify and understand the barriers affecting public sector employees' innovative behaviors, particularly examining how these obstacles differ across stages of innovation and between genders. Utilizing a qualitative phenomenological approach, the research involved in-depth interviews with 40 informants from six agencies in Kupang City and Kupang Regency. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis techniques, revealing eleven major barriers categorized into political-administrative leadership, public management, and individual factors. Political-administrative barriers include insufficient support from political actors and a restrictive organizational climate. Public management challenges encompass a risk-averse culture, weak interdepartmental collaboration, limited knowledge sharing, bureaucratic constraints, and regulatory rigidity that restricts creative ideas perceived as "out of the box." Another key finding highlights the demotivating effect of redundant local digital innovations replaced by centrally mandated platforms, fostering employee frustration and discouragement. Individual barriers identified include a lack of expertise, limited access to policymakers, and significant gender-related issues such as patriarchy, stereotypes, and domestic responsibilities. The study highlights its novelty by uncovering how regional contextual factors, especially gender dynamics, uniquely shape barriers to innovation. This study uniquely contributes to the literature by specifically examining barriers to innovative work behavior (IWB) in the under-researched context of Eastern Indonesia, focusing on both innovation stages and gender differences.

Keywords


critical barriers, gender, innovation process, innovative work behavior, local government

Full Text:

PDF


References

Adisa, T. A., Cooke, F. L., & Iwowo, V. (2020). Mind your attitude: the impact of patriarchy on women’s workplace behaviour. Career Development International, 25(2). https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-07-2019-0183 Baafi, F., Ansong, A., Dogbey, K. E., & Owusu, N. O. (2021). Leadership and innovative work behaviour within Ghanaian metropolitan assemblies: mediating role of resource supply. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 34(7). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-01-2021-0005 Bekkers, V., Edelenbos, J., & Steijn, B. (2011). Linking Innovation to the Public Sector: Contexts, Concepts and Challenges. In Innovation in the Public Sector. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230307520_1 Berry, F. S., & Berry, W. D. (2014). Innovation and Diffusion Models in Policy Research in Sabatier, P.A. and Weible, C.M. (eds.), Theories of the Policy Process, 3rd edition. Westview Press. Binyamin, G., Friedman, A., & Carmeli, A. (2018). Reciprocal care in hierarchical exchange: Implications for psychological safety and innovative behaviors at work. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000129 Borins, S. (2014). The persistence of innovation in government. The Persistence of Innovation in Government, 1–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2015.04.003 Bos-Nehles, A., Bondarouk, T., & Nijenhuis, K. (2017). Innovative work behaviour in knowledge-intensive public sector organizations: the case of supervisors in the Netherlands fire services. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 28(2), 379–398. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2016.1244894 Bos-Nehles, A., Renkema, M., & Janssen, M. (2017). HRM and innovative work behaviour: a systematic literature review. Personnel Review, 46(7), 1228–1253. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-09-2016-0257 Brunetto, Y., Saheli, N., Dick, T., & Nelson, S. (2021). Psychosocial Safety Climate, Psychological Capital, Healthcare SLBs’ Wellbeing and Innovative Behaviour During the COVID 19 Pandemic. Public Performance and Management Review. https://doi.org/10.1080/15309576.2021.1918189 Brunetto, Y., Xerri, M., & Farr-Wharton, B. (2021). The link between organizational support, wellbeing and engagement for emergency service employees: a comparative analysis. Public Money and Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2021.1987733 Bysted, R., & Hansen, J. R. (2015). Comparing Public and Private Sector Employees’ Innovative Behaviour: Understanding the role of job and organizational characteristics, job types, and subsectors. Public Management Review, 17(5), 698–717. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2013.841977 Cao, F., & Zhang, H. (2020). Workplace friendship, psychological safety and innovative behavior in China: A moderated-mediation model. Chinese Management Studies, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.1108/CMS-09-2019-0334 Cinar, E., Trott, P., & Simms, C. (2019a). A systematic review of barriers to public sector innovation process. Public Management Review, 21(2), 264–290. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2018.1473477 Cinar, E., Trott, P., & Simms, C. (2019b). An international exploration of barriers and tactics in the public sector innovation process. Public Management Review, 00(00), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2019.1668470 Clarke, N., & Higgs, M. (2019). Political Skill and Role Overload as Antecedents of Innovative Work Behavior in the Public Sector. Public Personnel Management, 49(3), 444–469. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091026019863450 Clausen, T. H., Demircioglu, M. A., & Alsos, G. A. (2020). Intensity of innovation in public sector organizations: The role of push and pull factors. Public Management Review, 98(1), 159–176. https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12617 Creswell, J. W. (2018). Reserch Design Quslitative , Quantitative and Mixed methods Approaches. In Sage (Issue 9). https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107415324.004 Damanpour, F., & Aravind, D. (2012). Managerial Innovation: Conceptions, Processes, and Antecedents. Management and Organization Review, 8(2), 423–454. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8784.2011.00233.x Dang, R., Nguyen, D. K., & Vo, L. C. (2014). Does the glass ceiling exist? A longitudinal study of women’s progress on french corporate boards. Journal of Applied Business Research, 30(3). https://doi.org/10.19030/jabr.v30i3.8576 De Vries, H., Bekkers, V., & Tummers, L. (2016). Innovation in the public sector: A systematic review and future research agenda. Public Administration, 94(1), 146–166. https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12209 De Vries, H., Bekkers, V., Tummers, L. L. G., Vries, H. De, Bekkers, V., Tummers, L. L. G., De Vries, H., Bekkers, V., & Tummers, L. L. G. (2016). Innovation in the public sector: A systematic review and future research agenda. Public Administration, 94(1), 146–166. https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12209 de Vries, H., Tummers, L., & Bekkers, V. (2018). The Diffusion and Adoption of Public Sector Innovations: A Meta-Synthesis of the Literature. Perspectives on Public Management and Governance, 1(3), 159–176. https://doi.org/10.1093/ppmgov/gvy001 Eisenberger, R., & Shanock, L. (2003). Rewards, Intrinsic Motivation, and Creativity: A Case Study of Conceptual and Methodological Isolation. Creativity Research Journal, 15(2–3), 121–130. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2003.9651404 Ellinas, E. H., Fouad, N., & Byars-Winston, A. (2018). Women and the Decision to Leave, Linger, or Lean In: Predictors of Intent to Leave and Aspirations to Leadership and Advancement in Academic Medicine. Journal of Women’s Health, 27(3). https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2017.6457 Fischer, C., Malycha, C. P., & Schafmann, E. (2019). The influence of intrinsic motivation and synergistic extrinsic motivators on creativity and innovation. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(FEB), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00137 Frederickson, H. G., Smith, K. ., Larimer, C. ., & Licari, M. J. (2016). The Public Administration Theory Primer (Third Edit). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429494369 Fusch, P., & Ness, L. (2015). Are We There Yet? Data Saturation in Qualitative Research. In The Qualitative Report (Vol. 20, Issue 9). http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR20/9/fusch1.pdf Godlewska, M., & Mackiewicz, M. (2023). Local context of local government participation in the innovation networks: Evidence from Poland. International Journal of Management and Economics, 59(3). https://doi.org/10.2478/ijme-2023-0007 Hansen, M. B. (2011). Antecedents of organizational innovation: The diffusion of new public management into Danish local government. Public Administration, 89(2), 285–306. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.2010.01855.x Hashim, K. L. (2021). Enhancing Innovative Work Behaviour of Malaysian Public Sector Employees. Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH), 6(2). https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v6i2.665 Janssen, O. (2000). Job demands, perceptions of effort‐reward fairness and innovative work behaviour. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 73(3), 287–302. https://doi.org/10.1348/096317900167038 Johannes, F. B., Liliweri, A., Gana, F., & Nursalam, N. (2022). Critical Factors for Women’s Representation in Top Management Leadership Positions in Local Government. Jurnal Kebijakan & Administrasi Publik (JKAP), 26(22). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.22146/jkap.78090 Kalucza, J., & Hattke, F. (2020). Bureaucratic red tape: A bibliometric and meta-analytic study. 80th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management 2020: Understanding the Inclusive Organization, AoM 2020. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2020.88 Korac, S., Saliterer, I., & Walker, R. M. (2017). Analysing the environmental antecedents of innovation adoption among politicians and public managers. Public Management Review, 19(4), 566–587. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2016.1200119 Krippendorff, K. (2022). Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology. In Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781071878781 Lapuente, V., & Suzuki, K. (2020). The prudent entrepreneurs: women and public sector innovation. Journal of European Public Policy, 0(0), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2020.1770316 Lyu, H. G., Davids, J. S., Scully, R. E., & Melnitchouk, N. (2019). Association of Domestic Responsibilities with Career Satisfaction for Physician Mothers in Procedural vs Nonprocedural Fields. In Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey (Vol. 74, Issue 9). https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ogx.0000579684.22523.cb Meijer, A. J. (2014a). From Hero-Innovators to Distributed Heroism: An in-depth analysis of the role of individuals in public sector innovation. Public Management Review, 16(2), 199–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2013.806575 Meijer, A. J. (2014b). From Hero-Innovators to Distributed Heroism: An in-depth analysis of the role of individuals in public sector innovation. Public Management Review, 16(2), 199–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2013.806575 Miller, R. M., Chan, C. D., & Farmer, L. B. (2018). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: A Contemporary Qualitative Approach. Counselor Education and Supervision, 57(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/ceas.12114 Mulder, P. (2017). Bureaucratic Theory by Max Weber. ToolsHero. Nazir, S., Shafi, A., Atif, M. M., Qun, W., & Abdullah, S. M. (2019). How organization justice and perceived organizational support facilitate employees’ innovative behavior at work. Employee Relations, 41(6). https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-01-2017-0007 Oppi, C., Bagheri, A., & Vagnoni, E. (2019). Antecedents of innovative work behaviour in healthcare: does efficacy play a role? International Journal of Public Sector Management, 33(1), 45–61. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-12-2018-0267 Orazi, D. C., Turrini, A., & Valotti, G. (2013). Public sector leadership: New perspectives for research and practice. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 79(3), 486–504. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020852313489945 Peterson, H. (2019). A women-only leadership development program: Facilitating access to authority for women in Swedish higher education? Social Sciences, 8(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci8050137 Powell, G. N., & Butterfield, D. A. (2015). The glass ceiling: what have we learned 20 years on? In Journal of Organizational Effectiveness (Vol. 2, Issue 4). https://doi.org/10.1108/JOEPP-09-2015-0032 Pradana, I. P. Y. B. (2022). Sustainabilitas Inovasi Sektor Publik Di Indonesia (Studi Kasus Inovasi di Pemerintah Kota Yogyakarta Dan Kota Kupang). Doctoral Thesis, Universitas Gadjah Masa. Pradana, I. P. Y. B., Kumorotomo, W., & Susanto, E. (2023). The institutionalization of public innovation: Evidence from Indonesia. Administration & Society, 55(4), 1–26. https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1177/00953997231151438 Scott, S. G., & Bruce, R. A. (1994). Determinants of Innovative Behavior: A Path Model of Individual Innovation In The Workplace. Academy of Management Journal, 37(3), 580–607. https://doi.org/10.2307/256701 Shanker, R., Bhanugopan, R., van der Heijden, B. I. J. M., & Farrell, M. (2017). Organizational climate for innovation and organizational performance: The mediating effect of innovative work behavior. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2017.02.004 Tanesab, J. P., & Park, J. J. (2020). Impact of Organizational Innovation on Work Performance: The Mediating Effect of Work Resources in Public-Sector Organizations. International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.30845/ijbht.v10n3p3 Tidd, J., & Bessant, J. (2018). Innovation Management Challenges: From Fads to Fundamentals. International Journal of Innovation Management, 22(5). https://doi.org/10.1142/S1363919618400078 Torugsa, N. (Ann), & Arundel, A. (2016). Complexity of Innovation in the public sector: A workgroup-level analysis of related factors and outcomes. Public Management Review, 18(3), 392–416. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2014.984626 Vaismoradi, M., Turunen, H., & Bondas, T. (2013). Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study. In Nursing and Health Sciences (Vol. 15, Issue 3). https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12048 van Acker, W., Wynen, J., & Op de Beeck, S. (2018). Illuminating the Gender Divide in Public Sector Innovation: Evidence From the Australian Public Service. Public Personnel Management, 47(2), 175–194. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091026017747299 Walker, R. M. (2014). Internal and External Antecedents of Process Innovation: A review and extension. Public Management Review, 16(September 2014), 37–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2013.771698 Wynen, J., Verhoest, K., Ongaro, E., & van Thiel, S. (2014). Innovation-Oriented Culture in the Public Sector: Do managerial autonomy and result control lead to innovation? Public Management Review, 16(1), 45–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2013.790273 Yuan, H., & Ma, D. (2022). Gender Differences in the Relationship between Interpersonal Trust and Innovative Behavior: The Mediating Effects of Affective Organizational Commitment and Knowledge-Sharing. Behavioral Sciences, 12(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12050145 Zubiri-Esnaola, H., Gutiérrez-Fernández, N., & Guo, M. (2021). “No More Insecurities”: New Alternative Masculinities’ Communicative Acts Generate Desire and Equality to Obliterate Offensive Sexual Statements. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.674186



DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/jkap.101329

Article Metrics

Abstract views : 3659 | views : 3894

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share


Copyright (c) 2025 JKAP (Jurnal Kebijakan dan Administrasi Publik)

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.