Exploring the buffer effect of intrinsic interest on the relationship between idea implementation and negative workplace gossip
Nankai Business Review International
ISSN: 2040-8749
Article publication date: 22 December 2022
Issue publication date: 15 February 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Although idea implementation is a praised useful resource, the psychological and behavioral costs that employees may pay for idea implementation are rarely discussed. This study aims to examine the buffer effect of intrinsic interest on dark side of idea implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the conservation of resources theory, this study tested hypotheses with a multi-wave survey study of four information technology companies in China.
Findings
First, idea implementation increased emotional exhaustion. Second, emotional exhaustion mediated the relationship between employee idea implementation and negative workplace gossip about a leader. Third, intrinsic interest negatively moderated the relationship between idea implementation and emotional exhaustion. Fourth, idea implementation increased workplace negative gossip about a leader as a result of increased emotional exhaustion when intrinsic interest was low.
Originality/value
These findings are conducive to further understanding of the psychological mechanism and boundary condition of the negative impact of idea implementation. It provides practical guidance for buffering the dark side of idea implementation and effectively controlling the workplace negative gossip in the workplace.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the editor (Guiquan Li) and all reviewers for very helpful comments on this paper. This work has been supported by grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project Number 71421061).
Citation
Yuan, Y., Wu, Z. and Zhang, Q. (2024), "Exploring the buffer effect of intrinsic interest on the relationship between idea implementation and negative workplace gossip", Nankai Business Review International, Vol. 15 No. 1, pp. 112-127. https://doi.org/10.1108/NBRI-05-2022-0059
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited