Leadership and creative performance behaviors in R&D laboratories: examining the mediating role of justice perceptions

Abstract

The present study examines the direct relationship between leadership and creative performance behaviors as well as the mediating role of justice perceptions for this relationship in a R&D context. Data were collected using a survey questionnaire from 482 scientists working in 11 public-owned Indian R&D laboratories. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships between the study variables. The study found evidence for both direct and indirect relationships between leadership and creative performance behaviors. Justice perceptions partially mediate the relationship between leadership and creative performance behaviors. The study presents a process model of creativity linking leadership to creative performance behaviors through employee justice perceptions. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.