UNDERSTANDING EMPLOYEES´ENTREPRENEURIAL ALERTNESS: THE ROLE OF CREATIVITY AND SUPPORT FOR CREATIVITY

Considering a perspective on the integration of creativity research, entrepreneurship and innovation, this study examines the possibility that employees’ creative potential at work is related to their level of practised creativity. That practised creativity, in turn, is related to their entrepreneurial alertness. The study also examines whether these relations are moderated by the support for creativity that employees receive from supervisors and co-workers. Using data from 278 middle-managers from medium and large firms, results indicate that creative potential is significantly related to practised creativity. However, practised creativity is not significantly related to all dimensions of entrepreneurial alertness. Moderating effects suggest that support for creativity strengthens the significant relationships. Results also show that practised creativity mediates the relationship between creative potential and entrepreneurial alertness. This study discusses the results and their implications for future research and practice