Following the Rules to Drive Innovation: A Resource Conservation and Allocation Model of Work Standardization and Innovation

Despite the established benefits of standardization, such as safety, reliability, and efficiency, its impact on creativity and innovation remains contentious, with existing research showing both detrimental and beneficial effects. This study proposes that the relationship between standardization of work and team innovation depends on the distinction between the generation and implementation of creative ideas. This study argues that standardization's benefits, through resource conservation, will mainly benefit the implementation of ideas. Further, it proposes that these beneficial effects of standardization hinge on the organization's explicit valuation and reward of innovation, shaping the allocation of conserved resources. The investigation utilizes a multilevel field data set (N = 119 teams) and an experimental approach (N = 81 teams) to examine how standardization and rewards for innovation moderate the relationship between team creativity and innovation outcomes. The findings contribute to understanding the multifaceted role of standard work procedures and rewards in fostering team innovation, arguing that these effects should be considered within the context of resource conservation and allocation.