Can multicultural experience stimulate creativity? The moderating role of regulatory focus. (2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chang, Shu-Ching; Cheng, Jen-Wei; Wu, Tsung-Yu; Wang, Jin-Long; Hung, Cheng-Ze
• Is Part Of: International journal of innovation and learning. Volume 21:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 329
• Page End: 347
• Publication Date: 2017
• Subjects: creativity -- multicultural experience -- regulatory focus -- multicultural learning -- innovation -- regulation -- culture; Knowledge management -- Periodicals; Learning -- Periodicals; Diffusion of innovations -- Periodicals; 006.33
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-8197

Abstract

Innovation is crucial to the success of organisations and is a core capability for their long-term survival. Creativity is the starting point of innovation. A number of studies have found that multicultural experiences can stimulate creativity. Nonetheless, the boundary conditions of this influence have yet to be fully elucidated. This study investigated whether one's regulatory focus moderates the relationship between multicultural experience and creativity. We adopted an experimental approach based on the manipulation of multicultural experience and regulatory focus with 120 students (study 1) and 120 executives (study 2) as participants. The results of evaluating their creativity indicated that multicultural experience exerts a significant influence on creativity. Furthermore, regulatory focus moderates the relationship between multicultural experience and creativity. These findings' on multicultural learning and creativity have important implications for human resource management and global learning.