High-Performance Work Systems and Intrapreneurial Behavior: The Mediating Role of Knowledge Centered Culture

Abstract Background and purpose Employee intrapreneurial behavior (EIB) has become strategically important for organizational performance. Contemporary managers are exploring ways by which EIB can be reinforced and sustained. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of high-performance work systems (HPWS) and knowledge centered culture (KCC) on EIB, and the mediating role of KCC on the HPWS-EIB path. Methodology The proposed hypotheses were tested by utilizing the variance-based structural equation modeling approach on cross-sectional responses garnered from individuals working in the Jordanian tourism, travel, and hospitality enterprises. Results The analyses yielded robust support for the associations. As expected, HPWS had a direct and significant effect on KCC and EIB. Consequently, KCC did not only impact EIB significantly, but also mediated the association between HPWS and EIB. Conclusion This study considers bundle of HR initiatives via HPWS and explores the underlying processes by which EIB is nurtured. Unlike past discoveries that linked HPWS to EIB, this study shows why and how EIB is enabled in an Arabian context. The findings did not only extend past discoveries, but also provide theoretical and practical basis for EIB as an outcome.