Internal innovation contests are the most frequently realized practical approach to capturing organization-wide creativity. Here, important business challenges are digitally broadcasted to a large group of potential volunteers within the firm regardless of their position. Innovation theory highlights that positive perceptions of individuals’ work environment positively influence their innovating behaviors, while negative perceptions suppress them. We surveyed employees of a specific subsidiary of a large German company in the telecommunications industry that is responsible for the management of the group's entire product portfolio. The results indicated that (1) not all elements of the work environment influence employees’ intrinsic motivation to participate and (2) power distance orientation matters when intrinsic motivation leads to willingness to participate in future internal idea contests.

内部创新竞赛是获取组织范围内创造力的最常用的实践方法。在这里，重要的业务挑战将以数字方式广播给公司内部的一大批潜在志愿者，无论他们身在何处。创新理论强调，对个人工作环境的积极认识会对他们的创新行为产生积极影响，而对消极观念的抑制则对创新行为产生抑制作用。我们对电信行业一家大型德国公司的特定子公司的员工进行了调查，该公司负责管理整个集团的产品组合。