The Influence of High-Performance Work Systems on the Innovation Performance of Knowledge Workers

Abstract

In the era of a knowledge economy, how to build an effective incentive system and to motivate the creativity of knowledge workers is extremely important to the long-term future of high-tech enterprises. However, a performance incentive system based on material incentives widely constructed by managers not only is difficult to generate in the long term and a significant incentive effect for knowledge workers but also brings heavy economic burden to enterprises. This paper constructs a high-performance work system (HPWS) that includes three variables: career growth, career calling and inclusive leadership. This study also discusses its effects on the innovation performance of knowledge workers, and examines the role of the craftsman spirit in the above-mentioned influence relationships. Based on the valid sample data of 364 knowledge workers from 14 different high-tech enterprises, the hierarchical regression analysis and the bootstrap analysis are used to analyze the data and to verify the relationship between the above-mentioned variables. The results show that: (1) Career growth, career calling and inclusive leadership can significantly improve the innovation performance of knowledge workers. (2) The craftsman spirit plays the part of an intermediary role in the above-mentioned influence relationships. (3) Career calling, inclusive leadership and their interaction can positively regulate the relationship between career growth and the craftsman spirit. Compared with previous studies, the purpose of this paper is to build a cross-level incentive system for knowledge workers from the perspective of non-material incentives, which effectively makes up for the deficiencies of material incentive system. Furthermore, the conclusion of this paper also provides practical suggestions for managers to better integrate the limited resources of enterprises to meet the multi-level needs of knowledge workers and to improve their innovation performance to the maximum extent.

e-RetailTest: Scale to Assess the Attitude of Consumers towards E-Commerce in the Retail Sector

“…The e-RetailTest scale was built based on theoretical models that determine customer perceptions of their attitude towards online purchases in the retail sector [22,28,30,[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54]63,64], therefore, these perceptions are determined, among others, by five variables present in the online purchase process: (a) Quality of web design, for which eight items were established and aimed at measuring the design of the information, specifically, the way in which the information published on the website is organized [37][38][39][40]; (b) Risk at the time of making a purchase, for which four items were established that evaluate the uncertainty and unpredictable consequences that customers experience at the beginning of a purchase process [41,42]; (c) Customer service, determined by three items that evaluate the action that leads to effective communication between the company representative and the online customer [40,[44][45][46]; (d) Security, which has three items and measures the customer's perception of privacy, protection, and trust throughout the purchase process [47][48][49] and (e) Satisfaction, represented by two items that evaluate the positive attitude of the customer regarding the service received and their expectations and that succeeds in promoting repurchase behavior [50]…”

“…At a theoretical level, the e-RetailTest scale contributes to the line of instrumental research by offering a means to measure the attitude to purchase online, specifically in the retail sector, based on current and current theoretical models on the variables related to the purchase process or purchasing online [22,28,30,[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54]63,64], whose authors state that the attitudes of customers in an online purchase process and their prediction for future purchases can be measured through various evaluations that the customer made from the security during the online purchase process [47][48][49], the risk perceived during the purchase intention [41,42], the ease that the design of the virtual store offers to make the purchase [37][38][39][40], the service received through the different communication channels and the delivery process [40,[44][45][46], and the satisfaction perceived from the online shopping experience [50][51][52][53]. In addition, it is made known that the first version of this instrument was not built to be exclusive to online purchases in the retail sector; however...…”

“…Various researchers have studied the types of customer service based on the forms of communication [44], others have classified it into pre-sale, sale, and post-sale customer service [45]. Regardless of the type of service, it is important that there must be a good quality of customer service, since the subjective evaluation made by consumers regarding the interaction processes of the service will depend on it [40]; In this way, the interaction process is also understood as the existing communication between the company and the client, but with the support of electronic commerce platforms where clients can perceive the quality of service online [46].…”

How Mentoring Cultivates the Craftsman Spirit of Protégés—A Moderated Mediation Model

“…In the era of rapid technological revolution and industrial transformation, enterprises are facing increasingly complex internal and external environments where the craftsman spirit is considered as a significant factor in enhancing core competitiveness and maintaining sustainable growth [1][2][3]. The term "craftsman spirit", which stems from the manufacturing industry to describe the "skilled craftsmen", is now applied to all fields of work, implying the professionalism and mindfulness of employees who are in ordinary positions but make extraordinary achievements.…”

“…Enterprises require craftsman spirit to overcome technical difficulties and enhance their core competence. How to cultivate the craftsman spirit of employees has attracted the attention from both practitioners and management scholars [1,3,5].…”