The perceived overqualification's effect on innovative work behaviour: Do transformational leadership and turnover intention matter?

This paper aims to test the mediating role of turnover intention as well as the moderating role of transformational leadership in the relationship between perceived overqualification and innovative work behaviour in the telecommunications industry. Data were collected using questionnaires from three main telecommunications companies in Turkey. A total of 420 white-collar employees were reached as a result of the application of the simple random sampling method. The data was analysed via structural equation modelling. The present research revealed that transformational leadership had a full moderating role in the relationship between perceived overqualification and innovative work behaviour. Additionally, turnover intention had a mediating role on the increase of overqualification. The results of the study revealed that employees' POQ could be manipulated to produce positive outcomes for the organization. Empirical findings regarding the negative impact of IWB have extended the scope of theoretical discussions on POQ and IWB by adding TI as a critical mediator. Employees with POQ can produce excellent results if managed appropriately. Therefore, when making decisions, leaders should regard employees with a high level of POQ as a source of innovation. Besides, managers can direct the focus of POQ employees from TI to IWB through the application of TL.