The influence of flexible work arrangements on the innovative work behavior of employees in the IT sector of the Republic of Serbia

Flexible work arrangements (FWAs) are non-traditional work patterns that enable employees and employers to agree on when, where, and how tasks are performed, enhancing work-life balance. This study investigates the effect of flexible work arrangements on innovative work behavior (IWB) in Serbia's IT sector, focusing on idea generation, promotion, and realization. Using a sample of 185 IT employees, the research employs PLS-SEM analysis with IBM SPSS Statistics and SmartPLS software. The results reveal a significant positive relationship between flexible work arrangements and innovative work behavior, demonstrating that flexible work arrangements foster creativity and innovation. The findings emphasize the strategic value of flexible work arrangements in enhancing employee performance and organizational innovation. The study contributes to bridging a gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence on FWAs' role in fostering innovation within the IT sector in Serbia. Practical implications highlight the need for tailored flexible work arrangements to improve employee engagement and organizational competitiveness, with recommendations for future research involving larger and more diverse samples.