When is task conflict translated into employee creativity? The moderating role of growth need strength

The literature shows that task conflict plays an important role in the team operation process, but little is known about who exhibits greater creativity when in conflict, leading the team toward greater creativity. To enhance understanding of employee creativity, this study proposed that task conflict has a curvilinear relationship with employee creativity and that employees' growth need strength moderates the relationship. A cross-level investigation of employee creativity within 59 groups of employees from multiple Chinese companies was conducted. The results showed that task conflict has an inverted U-shaped relationship with employee creativity. Growth need strength was found to have a moderating effect on the relation between task conflict and employee creativity. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.