Premium
Leadership as an enabler of professional agency and creativity: case studies from the Finnish information technology sector
Author(s) -
Collin Kaija,
Herranen Sanna,
Paloniemi Susanna,
Auvinen Tommi,
Riivari Elinsa,
Sintonen Teppo,
Lemmertty Soila
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of training and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.558
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1468-2419
pISSN - 1360-3736
DOI - 10.1111/ijtd.12130
Subject(s) - creativity , agency (philosophy) , enabling , context (archaeology) , public relations , sociology , knowledge management , engineering ethics , psychology , political science , social psychology , social science , engineering , computer science , paleontology , psychotherapist , biology
This paper summarizes and elaborates the findings of a research project on leadership as an enabler of professional agency and creativity in information technology organizations. The synthesis in this paper is based on a summary of three primary studies. Each of the studies approached leadership, creativity and/or professional agency with a specific focus. Leaning on a mixed‐methods and ethnographic approach, including various empirical data collection and analytical tools, the project investigated the relationship between professional agency and creativity; issues that frame professional agency and creativity; and the meaning of leadership practices for the enhancement of agency and creativity. The findings highlight a strong connection between professional agency and creativity and their context‐ and situation‐specific manifestations. The findings also address creativity that manifests itself in interaction, processes and collaboration. Further, the findings discuss the role of agile human resource development for professional agency and creativity, and show that flexible leadership practices are necessary in supporting professional agency and creativity.