Do hope foster innovative work behavior through employee engagement and knowledge sharing behavior? A conservation of resources approach using MPLUS tool

The aim of this study is to develop and test a conceptual path model that examines the relationship among positive psychological resources, i.e. hope, positive organizational behaviors (knowledge sharing behavior (KSB) and innovative work behavior (IWB)) and employee engagement (job engagement (JE) and organizational engagement (OE)). The framework for this study is drawn on the basis of conservation of resource theory using causal research design. This study investigates the impact of hope on employees’ innovative work behavior through engagement and knowledge sharing behavior. Therefore, the present study has explored the indirect mechanism of hope and innovative work behavior through sequential mediation of engagement and knowledge sharing behavior that helps in attaining the desired organizational goals as innovative work behavior. Data were collected from 354 respondents in the Information and Communication Technology sector organizations located within twin cities of Pakistan (Islamabad and Rawalpindi) through a self-administered questionnaire. Analysis was conducted using a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique through maximum likelihood estimation using MPlus software. Limitations and future research recommendations are also discussed at the end of the study.