Dr. Gerhard Messmann

•Innovative work behaviour and innovation
•Psychological needs, empowerment, and motivation
•Leadership and social support
•Feedback (incidents, culture, orientation, and seeking)
•Informal learning and reflection
•Design of learning environments

Triggers and antecedents of innovative work behaviour
Having been the focus of my doctoral research, my first key research interest is the facilitation of innovative work behaviour in organizations. Innovative work behaviour is not only an important resource for organizational development but a valuable source of employees’ professional development. In this respect, the central question is how employees contribute to the development of innovations, which antecedents determine these contributions as well as what triggers these contributions.
Therefore, my research focuses on contextual conditions such as leadership and support and psychological conditions such as needs, empowerment, and motivation as antecedents of innovative work behaviour. Most importantly, I go beyond the mainstream of existing research by including behavioural antecedents such as informal learning activities at work (including feedback seeking) and reflection. Moreover, feedback (i.e., characteristics of feedback incidents, feedback culture and feedback orientation) is investigated as an important trigger of work innovative work behaviour and professional development.

Design of learning environments for motivation and transfer
My second key interest is the design of learning environments professional development in formal settings (e.g., professional training). Similar to my research on innovative work behaviour and professional development in non-formal settings (i.e., the workplace), I focus on psychological and contextual requirements for learning environment design. With respect to psychological requirements, I investigate whether particular learning environment designs enable learners’ needs satisfaction and, thus, enhances learning motivation and motivation to transfer. With respect to contextual requirements, I focus on the subsequent question whether particular learning environment designs are authentic, complex, and provide multiple representations and perspectives, and, thus, enable the application and further acquisition of knowledge and skills in multiple contexts.

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

Gerken, M., Messmann, G., Froehlich, D. E., Beausaert, S. A. J., Mulder, R. H., & Segers, M. (2018). Informal learning at work as a facilitator of employees’ innovative work behaviour. In G. Messmann, M. Segers, & F. Dochy (Eds.), Informal learning at work: Triggers, antecedents, and consequences (pp. 80–99). London: Routledge.

Segers, M., Messmann, G., & Dochy, F. (2018). Emergence, theoretical foundation, and conceptualisation of informal learning at work. In G. Messmann, M. Segers, & F. Dochy (Eds.), Informal learning at work: Triggers, antecedents, and consequences (pp. 1–11). London: Routledge.

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2017). Proactive employees: The relationship between work-related reflection and innovative work behaviour. In M. Goller & S. Paloniemi (Eds.), Agency at work: An agentic perspective on professional learning and development(pp. 141–159). Dordrecht: Springer.doi:10.1007/978-3-319-60943-0_8 

König, C., Messmann, G., Mulder, R. H., & De Maeyer, S. (2015). Accounting for complexity: Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) in HRD Research. In M. N. K. Saunders & P. Tosey (Eds.), Handbook of Research Methods on Human Resource Development (pp. 273-290). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Mulder, R. H., Messmann, G., & Gruber, H. (2009). Professionelle Entwicklung von Lehrenden als Verbindung von Professionalität und professionellem Handeln. In O. Zlatkin-Troitschanskaia, K. Beck, D. Sembill, R. Nickolaus, & R. H. Mulder (Hrsg.), Lehrprofessionalität. Bedingungen, Genese, Wirkungen und ihre Messung (pp. 401-409). Weinheim: Beltz.

Books and Research Reports

Messmann, G., Segers, M., & Dochy, F. (Eds.) (2018). Informal learning at work: Triggers, antecedents, and consequences. London: Routledge.

Messmann, G. (2012). Innovative work behaviour: Investigating the nature and facilitation of vocational teachers' contributions to innovation development. Doctoral dissertation, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2009). Zusammenhänge zwischen Professionalitätsmerkmalen und innovativem Arbeitsverhalten. Ergebnisse einer Fragebogenstudie im Bereich beruflicher Schulen. Forschungsbericht Nr. 4, Lehrstuhl für Pädagogik II, Universität Regensburg.

Messmann, G. (2006). Die Veränderung der motivationalen Regulation und deren Determinanten im Rahmen einer berufspraktischen Lernumgebung. Eine Analyse am Beispiel Jugendlicher ohne Ausbildungsplatz. Unveröffentlichte Magisterarbeit, Universität Regensburg.

Conference Presentations and Symposia

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2017, September). Effects of perceived feedback culture and work motivation on informal learning after feedback. Paper presented at the 17th Biennial EARLI Conference for Research on Learning and Instruction, Tampere (Finland).

Froehlich, D. E., & Messmann, G. (2016, August). The social side of innovative work behaviour: Determinants of social interaciton during organizational innovation processes. Paper presented at the at the 8th Conference of the EARLI SIG Learning and Professional Development, Regensburg (Germany).

Messmann, G., Stoffers, J., Van der Heijden, B. J. M. & Mulder, R. H. (2016, August). Joint effects of job demands and job resources on vocational teachers’ innovative work behaviour. Paper presented at the at the 8th Conference of the EARLI SIG Learning and Professional Development, Regensburg (Germany).

Messmann, G., Mulder, R. H. & Palonen, T. (2016, August). Exploring the role of vocational teachers’ personal network at school as a resource for innovative work behaviour. Paper presented at the at the 8th Conference of the EARLI SIG Learning and Professional Development, Regensburg (Germany).

Messmann, G., Stoffers, J., Van der Heijden, B. I. J. M., & Mulder, R. H. (2016, February). Interactive effects of job demands, psychological empowerment, and participative safety on innovative work behavior. Paper presented at the 2016 AHRD International Research Conference in the Americas, Jacksonville, FL (United States of America).

Gerken, M., Messmann, G., Froehlich, D. E., Beausaert, S. A. J., & Segers, M., (2015, August). On the relation between social informal learning activities and innovative work behaviour. Paper presented at the 16th Biennial EARLI Conference for Research on Learning and Instruction, Limassol (Cyprus).

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2015, August). Reflection as a facilitator of educators’ innovative work behaviour. Paper presented at the 16th Biennial EARLI Conference for Research on Learning and Instruction, Limassol (Cyprus).

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2015, August). Facilitative conditions for apprentices’ informal learning activities at the workplace. Paper presented at the 16th Biennial EARLI Conference for Research on Learning and Instruction, Limassol (Cyprus).

Messmann, G., Segers, M., & Dochy, F. (2015, August). Triggers, antecedents, and consequences of informal learning at work. Symposium organised at the 16th Biennial EARLI Conference for Research on Learning and Instruction, Limassol (Cyprus).

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2015, June). Facilitative conditions for apprentices’ learning activities at the workplace. Paper presented at the 16th International Conference on Human Resource Development Research and Practice across Europe, Cork (Ireland).

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2014, June). Reflection as a facilitator of educators' innovative work behaviour. Paper presented at the 15th International Conference on Human Resource Development Research and Practice across Europe, Edinburgh (United Kingdom).

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2013, March). Individual and contextual facilitators of vocational teachers' innovative work behaviour. Paper presented at the 3rd Congress on Research on Vocational Education and Training, SFIVET Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, Bern (Switzerland).

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2011, August). Individual and contextual facilitators of vocational teachers’ innovative work behavior. Paper presented at the 14th Biennial Conference of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, Exeter (United Kingdom).

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2010, August). The use of personal experiences within the measurement of innovative work behaviour. Paper presented at the 5th Conference of the EARLI SIG Learning and Professional Development, Munich (Germany).

Messmann, G., Maier, V., & Mulder, R. H. (2010, March). Innovative work behaviour: Development and validation of a measure. Paper presented at the 9th International School on Educational Research, Niederalteich (Germany).

Messmann, G., Maier, V., & Mulder, R. H. (2010, March). Innovative work behaviour: Development and validation of a measure. Paper presented at the 8th Interdisciplinary European Conference on Entrepreneurship Research, Regensburg (Germany).

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2009, August). Innovative behaviour at work: Triggers, teachers' activities and innovations in vocational education. Paper presented at the 13th Biennial Conference of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, Amsterdam (The Netherlands).

Messmann, G., Rupprecht, M., & Mulder, R. H. (2009, June). Innovative behaviour for the development of innovations in different domains: The cases of vocational teachers and consultants. Reviewed paper presented at the 6th International Conference on Researching Work and Learning, Roskilde (Denmark).

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2009, Januar). Entwicklung von Innovationen an beruflichen Schulen: Auslösende Faktoren und innovatives Verhalten von Lehrenden. Präsentation auf der Frühjahrstagung der Sektion Berufs- und Wirtschaftspädagogik der DGfE, Mannheim (Deutschland).

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2008, August). Innovation processes at work: Triggers, teachers' activities and innovations in vocational education. Poster presented at the 4th Conference of the EARLI SIG Learning and Professional Development, Jyvaskyla (Finland).

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2008, July). Relations between innovativeness and flexible expertise of teachers as prerequisites for innovation in vocational education. Paper presented at the 12th Conference of Junior Researchers of EARLI (JURE), Leuven (Belgium).

Messmann, G., Mulder, R. H., & Gruber, H. (2007, October). Teacher expertise as basis for instructional innovation in vocational schools. Paper presented at the international conference 'Research on Vocational Education and Training for International Comparison and as International Comparison', Semi-Annual Meeting, Division Vocational and Occupational Education, German Educational Research Association, Göttingen (Germany).

Messmann, G., & Mulder, R. H. (2007, März). Merkmale innovativer Lernumgebungen als Einflussfaktoren auf die Motivation von Jugendlichen ohne Ausbildungsplatz: Anregungen für die Neukonzeption der beruflichen Bildung. Paperpräsentation auf der Frühjahrstagung der Sektion Berufs- und Wirtschaftspädagogik der DGfE, Zürich (Schweiz).

Mulder, R. H., Kahmann, K., Laubenbacher, S., & Messmann, G. (2006, August). Characteristics of learning environments in secondary vocational education and the relation with work identity. Paper presented at the 3rd Converence of the EARLI SIG Learning and Professional Development, Heerlen (The Netherlands).