Diversity climate and employee innovation: the role of domain-relevant skills and openness to experience

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this research is to test the unexplored association between diversity climate and employee innovation. To fully understand this association, this research aims to explore the mediating role of domain-relevant skills and the moderating role of openness to experience. Design/methodology/approach This research gathered data from 367 full-time employees working at information organisations in Vietnam. Structural equation modelling was used to test hypotheses. Findings The results showed that diversity climate positively impacted employee innovation directly and indirectly through domain-relevant skills. In addition, openness experience moderated the relationship between diversity climate and employee innovation. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to explore how a diversity climate influences employee innovation. This research also investigates how domain-relevant skills link diversity climate with employee innovation. Finally, this research provides further evidence that openness to experience reinforces the effect of diversity climate on employee innovation.