european journal of social sciences issn: 1450-2267 - EuroJournals

European Journal of Social Sciences – Volume 5, Number 3 (2007)
member exchange is characterized by the leader allowing his subordinates greater autonomy and
freedom to make decisions and mutual trust. This is similar to the findings of Graen and Scandura
(1987).
The relationship between predictor variables and innovative behavior are shown in Table 4.
With the exception of support for innovation, all other variables correlated positively with innovative
behavior. There was no significant relationship between support for innovation which is the a
dimension of the climate for innovation without the resource supply. However, when support for
innovation is computed with resource supply, the resultant variable (perceived psychological climate
for innovation) was found to be significantly related to innovative behavior (r = 0.24. p < 0.05). This
shows that perception of support for innovation without perception of adequate resource supply will
not result in innovative behavior. This is shown by the significant correlation between resource supply
and innovative behavior (r =0.47, p < 0.05).
Table 4: Relationship between Leader-Member Exchange, Leader Role Expectation, Individual Problem -
Solving Style, Support for Innovation, Resource Supply and Perceived Psychological Climate for
Innovation with Innovative Behavior.
Variables r p
Leader-member exchange 0.42 0.001*
Leader role expectation 0.64 0.001*
Systematic problem-solving style 0.30 0.007*
Intuitive problem-solving style 0.34 0.002*
Support for Innovation 0.20 0.090
Resource Supply 0.47 0.001*
Perceived Psychological Climate for Innovation 0.24 0.040*
Age 0.06 0.571
Career stage 0.01 0.949
Academic qualification 0.20 0.084
The results also show that high quality leader-member exchange as characterized by high levels
of trust between leader and member, grater autonomy and freedom to make decision for members is
important if members are to exhibit innovative behavior (r = 0.42, p < 0.05). This is in keeping with the
findings of Abbey and Dickson (1933), Pastillo and Brown (1978) and Siegel and Kaemmerer (1978).
Leader role expectation, that is the extent to which the leader expects his or her subordinate to be
innovative is strongly correlated with innovative behavior (r = 0.64, p < 0.05). This is similar to the
findings of Livingston (1984).
Both systematic problem- solving style (r = 0.30, p < 0.05) and intuitive problem-solving style
(r = 0.34, p