The mediating role of percevied leader support in the effect of overqualification perceptions of employees on their innovative behaviors

Human resource is the most valuable resource in an organization and it is very important to direct this valuable resource towards innovative behaviors in accordance with organizational purposes. However, this is not an easy task as people have different qualifications. In cases when person-work harmony cannot be achieved, the perception of over qualification in employees may cause negative organizational behaviors. In this context, compatibility of the qualification of people and the requirements of the work they do and the organization's support for these individuals with these characteristics in every respect will pave the way for their innovative behavior. Main purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of perceived leader support in the effect of overqualification perceptions of employees on their innovative behaviors. Within this scope, data of the research were collected by using questionnaire technique from 265 employees working at the unit of Kastamonu Entegre Ağaç Sanayi located in Kastamonu Organized Industrial Zone. Daya of the research were tested with statistical analyses (frequency, mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis), correlation analysis, linear regression analysis and hierarchical regression analysis. According to the findings of the research, a negative relationship was found between perceived overqualification and innovative behavior and leader support, and a positive relationship was detected between perceived leader support and innovative behavior. In addition, it was concluded that perceived leader support had a partial mediating effect in the effect of perceived overqualification on innovative behavior, which is the main hypothesis of the research.