Barjinder Singh, associate professor of management, explores the role of community and diversity climates in the workplace, and how it contributes to innovation.
In his latest research, Barjinder Singh, associate professor of management at the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, investigates the role of community climate in driving innovation at work.
The co-authored study, “Innovative work behaviors: role of climate, meaningfulness and employee status,” published in Organization Management Journal, examines how diversity climates, both within the organization and in the geographical community, influence employees’ ability to think creatively and implement new ideas.
Singh’s research treats diversity as a strategic resource, not a surface-level initiative. Grounded in the Conservation of Resources theory, it argues that inclusion strengthens employees’ sense of meaning at work, which in turn boosts innovation.
Key Findings
- Employees who perceive their organization as supportive and inclusive may be more likely to feel their work is meaningful.
- Innovation isn’t shaped by the workplace alone. The study explores a “community-to-work spillover” effect, examining whether inclusive communities, in addition to organizations, can positively influence how employees perform.
- The relationship between an organization’s diversity climate and meaningful work may be stronger for non-managerial employees. For employees without formal authority, inclusion may play a critical role in how they feel valued and purposeful.
“These findings give students an evidence-based way to think about leading in diverse workplaces,” said Singh. “In my organizational behavior and leadership courses, I use the research to show how inclusion, meaningful work and status dynamics can influence performance and innovation.”
The research was co-authored with Stephanie Solansky at Texas State University San Marcos, Donna Stringer at the University of Houston Clear Lake and Sarthak Singh at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Singh, who joined Elon in 2017, teaches courses in organizational behavior, human resource management and business ethics. His research has appeared in leading journals including the Journal of Organizational Behavior, Journal of Business Ethics and Human Resource Management.