Workplace Generativity: Construct and Scale Development with Validation

Abstract

Generativity reflects the motivation to invest in the development of others, ensuring the continuity and success of future generations. People tend to be generative where they invest their time—whether in the family, community, belief system, or workplace—as a means of improving the future for both the collective and the individual. This research develops and validates a workplace-specific generativity scale, addressing the need for a reliable measure that captures the motivations driving employees to nurture and guide the next generation of the workforce. Drawing from self-determination theory, theories of power and status, and established research on mentoring motives, the new scale of generative motives comprises three dimensions of prosocial, enrichment and enhancement. The new scale differentiates between employees who engage in prosocial behaviors out of a selfless commitment to others and those who do so for personal growth, status or influence. The findings highlight how these motivations shape workplace behaviors, organizational culture, and long-term succession planning opportunities. By redefining workplace generativity as a future-focused motivation to invest in workforce development, this research offers a nuanced understanding of goodwill behaviors in organizations. The scale provides a valuable tool for assessing employees' desire to assist others' growth and foster a more generative workplace culture.