Title:
The Effect of Workplace Friendship on Employees' Innovative Behavior With Knowledge Sharing and Psychological Safety as Mediation At BPTD Class II West Sumatra

Authors:
Elbriyan Sirait, Listiana Sri Mulatsih, Irwan Muslim, Indonesia

Abstract:

Facing an era of disruption and complexity in public services, public sector organizations are faced with the urgency of encouraging innovative behavior within the bureaucracy. Effective innovation stems not only from structural reform but also depends heavily on the quality of human resources, openness in exchanging information, and psychological well-being in the workplace. While previous studies have linked workplace friendship to various employee outcomes, research examining the simultaneous mediating mechanisms of knowledge sharing and psychological safety remains limited, particularly within the rigid structures of public administration in developing nations. Based on this, this study aims to determine the effect of workplace friendship on employee innovative behavior with knowledge sharing and psychological safety as mediating variables at BPTD Class II West Sumatra. This study applied quantitative research methods and employed a survey method, collecting data through an online questionnaire distributed via a link. The population consisted of all ASN employees working at the Class II Land Transportation Management Center (BPTD) of West Sumatra who are of productive age, totaling 186 people. The sampling technique used a non-probability sampling method with a saturated or census sampling technique. The analysis technique used Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS, and mediation testing used the path coefficient significance. Based on the research results, it was found that workplace friendship has a positive and significant effect on knowledge sharing. Workplace friendship has a positive and significant effect on innovative behavior. Workplace friendship has a positive and significant effect on psychological safety. Furthermore, knowledge sharing has a positive and significant effect on innovative behavior. Psychological safety has a positive and significant effect on innovative behavior. Finally, knowledge sharing and psychological safety positively mediate the effect of workplace friendship on employee innovative behavior, with the form of mediation being complementary mediation (partial mediation.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51505/IJEBMR.2026.10915