Employee Empowerment and Innovative Work Behavior in Manufacturing Firms in South-South Region, Nigeria
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between employee empowerment and innovative work behaviour among frontline workers in selected manufacturing firms across the South-South region of Nigeria. Anchored on the Expectancy Theory and situated within a positivist paradigm, the study employed a cross-sectional survey design to investigate how structural empowerment components - access to information and employee rewards, influence employees' generation, promotion, and implementation of innovative ideas. A census approach was adopted, targeting all 250 frontline workers across 28 branches of listed manufacturing firms in the Conglomerates, Consumer Goods, and Industrial Goods sectors. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire comprising 44 closed-ended items adapted from established scales, and responses were rated using a five-point Likert scale. Data analysis revealed a significant and positive relationship between access to information and innovative work behaviour, affirming that well-informed employees are more likely to identify problems and propose creative solutions. Similarly, employee rewards were found to have a positive and significant influence on innovative work behaviour, indicating that well-aligned reward structures motivate employees to engage in innovation-related efforts. These findings align with existing literature and extend the applicability of Expectancy Theory in the Nigerian manufacturing context. The study concludes that employee empowerment, particularly through access to information and performance-based rewards, is a critical driver of innovative behaviour among frontline manufacturing employees. It is therefore recommended that manufacturing firms institutionalize transparent communication systems, including regular briefings and digital dashboards, to ensure timely information flow. In addition, organizations should implement structured reward systems that acknowledge both individual and team-level innovation through financial incentives, promotions, and public recognition. These practical steps can enhance creativity, adaptability, and sustained competitiveness in Nigeria’s dynamic industrial environment.
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