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The International Journal of Human Resource Management Volume 21, 2010 - Issue 1
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Original Articles

Workplace humor and organizational creativity

Josephine Chinying Lang Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University, SingaporeCorrespondence[email protected]
&
Chay Hoon Lee Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Pages 46-60 | Published online: 25 Jan 2010
 
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Abstract

Workplace humor and organizational creativity are becoming topics of great interest to managers. There is a need to understand more about the role of humor in enhancing creative performance in the workplace. This study examines the relationship between the three functions of humor and organizational creativity. Results suggest that liberating humor and controlling humor relate significantly to organizational creativity, the former positively and the latter negatively, while stress relieving humor was not found to relate significantly to organizational creativity. Implications for practicing managers and research on humor and creativity are discussed.

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