Work environment and innovative work behavior: The role of creativity in the tourism industry context

Grounded in the dynamic componential model of creativity and innovation, this study examines how employees’ creativity (EC) mediates the relationship between the work environment (WE) and innovative work behavior in Lalibela’s tourism industry in Ethiopia. Using structural equation modeling, the findings reveal that organizational motivations, task domain resources, and skills in innovation management significantly enhance creativity, which, in turn, drives innovation. The results emphasize creativity as a pivotal mechanism linking supportive work environments to employee innovation. Leaders are encouraged to cultivate environments that provide adequate resources, autonomy, teamwork, and managerial encouragement. Unlike previous research, this study foregrounds the mediating role of creativity. It situates the findings within debates on the sharing economy in tourism, illustrating how WE dynamics and EC jointly foster innovative behaviors amid the sector’s evolving opportunities and challenges.