2009/12/26 by Naresh Kumar, Raduan Che Rose
Business, Management and Accounting · Engineering · Social Sciences · #Business #Computer science #Economic growth #Economics #Economy #Empirical research #Engineering #Islam #Islamic Finance and Banking Studies #Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior #Marketing #Originality #Political science #Public relations #Public sector #Qualitative research #Scale (ratio) #Social science #Socioeconomic Development in MENA #Sociology #Value (mathematics) #Work (physics) #Work ethic #Workforce
paper · doi:10.1108/02621711011009081
openalex publication_date 2009/12/26 · crossref created 2009/12/26 · crossref issued 2010/01/05 · crossref published 2010/01/05 · crossref published-print 2010/01/05 · crossref deposited 2025/07/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/08/02 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an in‐depth analysis of the Islamic work ethic (IWE) and its influence on innovation capability in the public sector. Design/methodology/approach The foundations of IWE and innovation capability were assessed using a validated questionnaire. A total of 472 employees from the Malaysian public sector participated in the survey. Findings The empirical results indicate that the IWE is highly adapted in the public sector. In addition, the respondents collectively declared that the innovation strength in the Malaysian public sector is mounting. The IWE measure was found to be significant with moderate correlation and positive relationship with the innovation capability scale. Research limitations/implications While the study was confined to the Malaysian public sector, it has considerable implications for the development of an optimistic workforce in other regions and across sectors. Practical implications An understanding of the commitment of the workforce to the IWE and its consequences for innovativeness facilitates HR professionals in designing and implementing change initiatives. Originality/value In response to the substantial need to examine IWE and workplace outcomes in a non‐Western environment, therefore, the paper embraces the extent to which IWE sways innovation capability in the public sector. Both scholars and practitioners will find the study valuable.