The Role of Employee Engagement in Revitalizing Creativity and Innovation at the Workplace: A Survey of Selected Libraries in Meru County - Kenya

Abstract

Creativity and innovation can neither be imposed nor can it be driven by disengaged employees. This study postulated that the level of employee engagement spurs creativity and innovation in the library. It aimed to establish the empirical evidence on whether employee engagement affects the level of creativity and innovation in libraries. It investigated the effects of employee engagement on creativity and innovation suggests improved model on the same. The study used descriptive cross-sectional survey design to examine three purposively selected libraries. Structured questionnaires and semistructured interviews were used to collect research data. Descriptive, correlation, regression, t-test and ANOVA were used to analyze the collected data. The response rate was 91% from a sample size of 31 library staffs. Both levels of staff engagement and that of creativity and innovation from the three libraries were found to be relatively high, 81.85% and 78.03% respectively. The mean values of these two variables did not differ significantly and exhibited 83.1% relationship. No significant difference was established between the two constructs but the outcome depended on how key constructs are configured. The study concludes that employee engagement assumes a critical precursor role to creativity and innovation at the workplace. Library leaders act as central catalysts and facilitators during the configuration process. The study recommend need to challenge work processes, environment, systems and patterns of thinking in library set-up, in order to nurture empowering atmosphere. An integrated model of employee engagement on creativity and innovation has been proposed.