Overwork climate and ambidextrous academic innovation: the moderating roles of power distance and collectivist values

Purpose Drawing on social information processing theory, this study examines the association between overwork climate and faculty members’ ambidextrous academic innovation. The study also examines the moderating roles of power distance and collectivist values in this relationship. Design/methodology/approach Survey data were collected from 401 faculty members across five Chinese universities. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings The results show that overwork climate is positively associated with ambidextrous academic innovation. Power distance values are also positively related to ambidextrous academic innovation and strengthen the positive relationship between overwork climate and ambidextrous academic innovation. In contrast, collectivist values are positively related to ambidextrous academic innovation but weaken the relationship between overwork climate and innovation. Originality/value The study extends existing research on overwork and innovation by integrating individual cultural value orientations as boundary conditions of this relationship. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of overwork climate by showing that its association with academic innovation varies according to how individuals interpret organizational expectations based on their cultural values.