Innovation is the key to academic excellence: exploring innovative work behavior through performance appraisal and self-efficacy

PurposeThis study aims to examine the influence of performance appraisal on Innovative work behavior of employees in public sector universities of Pakistan, by using the Ability, Motivation, and Opportunity framework.Design/methodology/approachA newly developed framework has been created to explore how performance appraisal, self-efficacy, and organizational climate influence employees' innovative work behavior. The study collected data using a self-administered questionnaire from employees who work in public universities in Pakistan.FindingsThe findings of this study revealed a positive correlation between performance appraisal and innovative work behavior. It is observed that self-efficacy mediates the relationship between performance appraisal and innovative work behavior and organizational climate moderates the relationship between self-efficacy and innovative work behavior.Originality/valueThe current study is novel and unique for several reasons. But the main contribution of this study is the validation of self-efficacy's mediating impact on innovative work behavior as well as the validity of the organizational climate as moderating effect in Pakistan's public sector universities, where a large number of students have been enrolled and they can get advantage from their teacher's improved innovative behavior.