Linking Social Exchange Relations and Creativity through Mediation of Feeling of Energy: An Evidence from IT Firms

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the dynamic role of social exchange relations and energy as an impetus for creative work involvement of IT professionals. One hundred and seventy five employees and sixty four team leaders were inquired at two points of time. At the first instance they were inquired for the perception of social exchange relations; and at the second instance, for energy and creativity. Analysis through structural equation modeling confirmed that social exchange relations (supervisory and coworker support) positively predict employees’ feeling of energy which results in increased level of creative work involvement. This study highlights the significance of social exchange relations by focusing on the energy and creative involvement as an outcome. This study gives a new direction to the social exchange relation and its possible contribution at work. Its results prove that social exchange relations foster energy and lead to an increased level of creative involvement in IT firms. Implications and future directions for researchers are also given.