The Influence of High-Performance Work Systems on the Innovation Performance of Knowledge Workers

Abstract

In the era of a knowledge economy, how to build an effective incentive system and to motivate the creativity of knowledge workers is extremely important to the long-term future of high-tech enterprises. However, a performance incentive system based on material incentives widely constructed by managers not only is difficult to generate in the long term and a significant incentive effect for knowledge workers but also brings heavy economic burden to enterprises. This paper constructs a high-performance work system (HPWS) that includes three variables: career growth, career calling and inclusive leadership. This study also discusses its effects on the innovation performance of knowledge workers, and examines the role of the craftsman spirit in the above-mentioned influence relationships. Based on the valid sample data of 364 knowledge workers from 14 different high-tech enterprises, the hierarchical regression analysis and the bootstrap analysis are used to analyze the data and to verify the relationship between the above-mentioned variables. The results show that: (1) Career growth, career calling and inclusive leadership can significantly improve the innovation performance of knowledge workers. (2) The craftsman spirit plays the part of an intermediary role in the above-mentioned influence relationships. (3) Career calling, inclusive leadership and their interaction can positively regulate the relationship between career growth and the craftsman spirit. Compared with previous studies, the purpose of this paper is to build a cross-level incentive system for knowledge workers from the perspective of non-material incentives, which effectively makes up for the deficiencies of material incentive system. Furthermore, the conclusion of this paper also provides practical suggestions for managers to better integrate the limited resources of enterprises to meet the multi-level needs of knowledge workers and to improve their innovation performance to the maximum extent.