Innovative Work Behaviour in Academia: How Psychological Empowerment and Knowledge Sharing Foster Innovation through Individual Innovation Capability

Academic innovation is crucial for the progress of knowledge-based societies. This research examines the interactions between psychological empowerment (PE) and knowledge sharing (KS) with academic innovative work behaviour (IWB), focusing on the mediating role of individual innovation capabilities (IIC). Data were gathered from 389 permanent academics in Malaysian higher education institutions. The results of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) show that KS and PE substantially affect IWB. Additionally, IIC partially mediates the relationship between PE and KS with IWB. The novelty of this study lies in the limited exploration of IIC as a mediator in the context of IWB. These results suggest that fostering PE and promoting KS can enhance the IWB and IIC play a crucial role in this process. Theoretically, the study advances by integrating SDT and SCT to explain IWB in HEIs. The practical implications emphasize the need for higher education institutions to create empowering environments and cultivate a culture of knowledge sharing to boost innovation among academic staff. These initiatives can profoundly influence their academic innovation performance and enhance the institution’s overall achievement.