When Does Overqualification Affect Bootlegging Positively?

Abstract

Purpose and Discussion

Individual knowledge and skills are important factors in promoting employee innovation. Research shows that a large number of employees perceive that their qualification level exceeds the formal requirements of the position. These people may spontaneously seek to change their current situation and dare to develop innovative ideas in an unconventional way. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between overqualification and bootlegging through the mediating effect of proactive career behavior on the basis of the human environment matching theory. This study also explored the moderating effect of a proactive personality between overqualification and bootlegging. This study shows that leaders should prioritize the potential of overqualified employees, encourage them to engage in challenging tasks, broaden the innovation channels of individuals and organizations, and monitor bootlegging activities. Highly motivated employees with overqualifications are more likely to actively plan and manage their careers, they will actively seek innovation to solve problems when encountering obstacles in their career development.

Participants and Methods

In this study, 457 questionnaires were collected from employees of many enterprises in Hunan Province and Guangdong Province of China. Partial least squares structural equation model based on variance (PLS-SEM) was used for data analysis.

Results

The results of the study reveal that there is a significant relationship between overqualification and bootlegging. In addition, proactive career behavior plays an intermediary role in the relationship between overqualification and bootlegging. Moreover, a proactive personality moderates the relationship between overqualification and bootlegging. Finally, the relationship between overqualification and bootlegging is stronger when a proactive personality is strong.

Keywords:

• overqualification
• bootlegging
• proactive career behavior
• proactive personality
• person-environment fit theory

Data Sharing Statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Ethics Statement

The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Departmental Ethical Committee, Hunan Normal University, China. The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Hunan Provincial Social Science Achievement Review Committee Project (No. XSP22YBC199).