Workplace information literacy: a bridge to the development of innovative work behaviour

Abstract

Purpose: Organisational culture and leadership, employee skills and aptitudes, access to resources, and training are regularly cited as important determinants of the development of innovative work behaviour (IWB). The purpose of the work reported in this paper was to investigate a further set of possible determinants of the development of IWB: those that are information-related. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed methods approach was adopted. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected by questionnaire, interview and focus groups in three large public sector case study organisations in Scotland, Finland and England. Findings: A set of information-related determinants of the development of IWB is evidenced, adding to the list of determinants that are already well documented. Notably workplace information literacy (IL) appears to furnish a bridge between determinants of the development of IWB and workplace learning. Originality/value: That information-related determinants may be valuable to the development of IWB has not previously merited specific consideration, nor been recognised, in the wider IWB literature. The identification of these determinants in this research should encourage researchers and professionals beyond the domain of information science to pay serious attention to IL. This is particularly important in respect of the role of workplace IL in processes that lead to new knowledge creation and innovation. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Keywords

Author Keywords

workplace learning Innovation information literacy information sharing Innovative work behaviour

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations

Centre for Social Informatics, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Funding & Acknowledgements

Edinburgh Napier University

The empirical research reported in this paper was funded by a Collaborative PhD studentship awarded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS), (grant number: ES/J500136/1). The authors thank all who participated in the empirical study. In addition, they acknowledge their former Edinburgh Napier University colleagues Dr Robert Raeside and Dr Laura Muir, who co-supervised the PhD alongside Dr Hazel Hall as Director of Studies. The authors are also grateful to Dr David Brazier, Dr Peter Cruickshank, Marina Milosheva, and Dr Gunilla Wid\u00E9n, who generously contributed valuable comments on an early draft of the paper.

Economic and Social Research Council, ESRC

Grant: ES/J500136/1

The empirical research reported in this paper was funded by a Collaborative PhD studentship awarded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS), (grant number: ES/J500136/1). The authors thank all who participated in the empirical study. In addition, they acknowledge their former Edinburgh Napier University colleagues Dr Robert Raeside and Dr Laura Muir, who co-supervised the PhD alongside Dr Hazel Hall as Director of Studies. The authors are also grateful to Dr David Brazier, Dr Peter Cruickshank, Marina Milosheva, and Dr Gunilla Wid\u00E9n, who generously contributed valuable comments on an early draft of the paper.

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Workplace information literacy: a bridge to the development of innovative work behaviour

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