High performance work practices for innovative work behavior: mediating effect of workplace support and job embeddedness in IT-based service industry

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of high performance work practices on innovative work behavior with individual and serial mediation effects of workplace support and job embeddedness in emerging service industry related to information technology (IT). Design/methodology/approach This research was conducted under an explanatory research design following stratified sampling techniques. Altogether, 465 employees holding different positions in the organizational hierarchy participated in this survey. Confirmatory factor analysis was used for the data’s reliability and validity, and mediation effects were examined following the Preacher and Hayes Process Macro approach. Findings The result revealed a significant positive relationship between high performance work practices and employee innovative work behavior. It concludes that partial and complementary serial mediating effects exist on workplace support and job embeddedness in the relationship between high performance work practices and innovative work behavior. Practical implications IT-based organizations can use the findings of this study to improve high performance work practices so that they can enhance innovative work behavior. These results become guidelines for creating a supportive work environment and increasing job embeddedness to adopt innovative work behavior, particularly in service industries. Originality/value This study contributes to the human resource management literature for strategic orientation in support of the social exchange theory and ability, motivation and opportunity theory and enriches the understanding of the mediating effect on innovative work behavior.