Antecedents and Consequences of Generation Y Hospitality Employees Innovative Behaviour: Assessing the Moderating Effect of Supervisor Support

Abstract

The continued significance of the tourism industry rests on its ability to nurture creativity. A key component of this industry’s workforce is Gen Y who are expected to be at the forefront in innovation. The study examined antecedents and consequences of innovative work behaviour and the moderating influence of supervisors among Gen Y employees in the hospitality industry in Kenya. Informed by the positivist philosophical school of thought and leaning towards explanatory research design, we targeted Gen Y employees drawn from star rated hotels in Nairobi City County. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and Hayes’ Macro ‘PROCESS’ approach was used to test whether supervisor support moderates the relationship between the identified antecedents and Gen Y employees’ innovative behaviour. The study established that work design (B=0.426. p<0.001), corporate strategy (B=0.243, p<0.001), and forming groups and networks (B= 0.277, p<0.001) were positive and significant antecedents of Gen Y employees’ innovative behavior in the hospitality industry. In addition, the test of highest order unconditional interaction revealed that supervisor support was critical in moderating the relationship between these antecedents and Gen Y employees’ innovative behavior. Conclusively, it is imperative that supervisors take a leading role in harnessing innovativeness among Gen Y employees.