Harnessing Employee Voice for Workplace Innovation: Evidence from Banking Sector

Abstract

Employee voice is pivotal in fostering workplace innovation, serving as a conduit for the cohort and execution of novel notions within administrations. This study examines the role of worker voice, specifically promotive and prohibitive voice, as critical factors influencing workplace novelty in the Indian banking division. Compiling data from 451 respondents by using structured questionnaires and the collection of data using a multistage cluster sampling technique, the research explores how these distinct dimensions of employee voice contribute to enhancing innovation processes. Promotive voice, characterised by suggestions for improvements and proactive engagement, and prohibitive voice, marked by expressions of concern to avert potential risks, are analysed as independent variables impacting workplace innovation. Findings highlight that both forms of employee voice significantly influence workplace innovation. Promotive voice fosters creativity and the initiation of innovative practices, while prohibitive voice ensures sustainability by addressing risks and inefficiencies. This study bids theoretical, managerial, and practical inferences for banking institutions aiming to cultivate an innovative workplace culture by leveraging employee voice. This study also acknowledges certain limitations. These include its focus on the Indian banking sector, which may limit generalisability to other industries, and the cross-sectional strategy of the data, which does not capture long-term trends. Future research is encouraged to address these limitations by exploring other sectors and employing longitudinal designs. This research underscores the importance of fostering an open communication climate to harness the potential of employee contributions for sustained organisational growth and competitiveness.

Keywords: Employee Voice, Promotive Voice, Prohibitive Voice, Workplace Innovation, Banking Sector, Creativity

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