Supervisor attribution of subordinates’ organizational citizenship behavior motives

The Paradoxical Effects of the Contagion of Service-Oriented Organizational Citizenship Behavior

Purpose

Previous research on the service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) of employees has mainly focused on the examination of its driving factors, and has ignored the consequences that it may bring to the workplace. To bridge this research gap, by shifting the focus to the event observers, a double-edged sword model is constructed in the present study, which helps explain whether, when, and why the service-oriented OCB of coworkers is contagious.

Methodology

Multi-wave data of 239 employees from seven service-oriented companies in the hospitality industry in central and southwestern China were used to support the proposed model. The time-lag method and critical incident techniques were introduced during the data collection stage. OLS regression and the bootstrapping method were employed for hypothesis testing.

Findings

Drawing on attribution theory, it is argued that the contagion (vs non-contagion) effects of service-oriented OCB work through the dual cognitive pathways (hypocrisy perception vs serving self-efficacy) of observers, which depend on the self-serving attribution of the observers to the behaviors of their coworkers. Specifically, when the self-serving attribution of observers is high, the service-oriented OCB of their coworkers is positively associated with the hypocrisy perception of the observers, which in turn inhibits their own service-oriented OCB. In contrast, when the self-serving attribution of observers is low, the service-oriented OCB of their coworkers is positively associated with the serving self-efficacy of the observers, which in turn promotes their service-oriented OCB. This framework provides a valuable theoretical explanation perspective and empirical evidence for the exploration of how service-oriented OCB affects observers.

Influence strategies and work outcomes: effects of attributions

Purpose

Previous research on influence strategies has almost exclusively indicated negative relationships between assertive influence and employee work outcomes; the purpose of this study is to argue that an assertive influence strategy can also lead to both positive and negative work outcomes, when subordinates hold different attributions towards the leaders’ motive of using assertive influence (hereafter “the cause”).

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical study was based on data collected from 930 employees in China. The authors developed hypotheses to test the mediating effects of three types of perception in the relationship between an assertive influence strategy and five outcomes, and additional analyses on persuasive and relational influence strategies are also conducted.

Findings

Results show that when subordinates attribute the cause to their ability (internal attribution), an assertive influence has indirect positive effect on felt obligation, organizational commitment, job performance and organizational citizenship behavior; when subordinates attribute the cause to the poor relationship with their superiors (relational attribution), an assertive influence has indirect negative impact on most outcomes except for job performance; when subordinates perceive that the cause is to the superiors, such as authoritarian leadership (external attribution), an assertive influence has indirect positive effect on job performance.

Practical implications

The study highlights the importance of subordinates’ perceptions during the leadership influence processes.

Originality/value

This study was the first to examine the mediation relationship between three types of influence strategies and five organizational outcomes based on a large sample of front-line staff in China. The findings of the study also enrich the literature of leadership and attribution theories.

A theoretical analysis of immigrant employees’ organizational citizenship behaviors in organizations

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical model describing how immigrant employees’ organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) are influenced by their immigrant status. Additionally, this study attempts to explore the mediating role of perceived job mobility as well as the moderating role of organizational tenure in the relationship between immigrant status and OCBs.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual analysis was performed.

Findings

Drawing upon social identity, self-categorization, and impression management theories, this study proposes the following. First, an immigrant employee’s perceived different categorization of employment and organizational status will have a negative impact on his or her challenge-oriented OCB. Second, an immigrant employee’s perceived categorization of employment and organizational status will have a positive impact on his or her affiliation-oriented OCB. Third, perceived job mobility mediates the relationship between the perceived different categorization of employment and organizational status and challenge- and affiliation-oriented OCBs of an immigrant employee. Finally, an immigrant employee’s organizational tenure weakens (or strengthens) the negative (or positive) impact of immigrant status on challenge-oriented (or affiliation-oriented) OCB.

Originality/value

From a theoretical standpoint, this study provides a novel theoretical base that guides future research on immigrant employees’ OCBs in organizations. More importantly, this study offers recommendations that help maximize the effectiveness of immigrant employee’s OCBs.

Beyond exchange and prosocial motives, is altruistic helping a valid motive for organizational citizenship behavior?

Purpose

The argument in this study is that employees differ in their motives in helping their organizations when they know that they may not be paid back for their efforts. This paper aims to examine whether these motives will lead to greater extra-role contribution in an organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The data of 124 pairs of employee in China have been used to develop and test the measurement of an “altruistic helping of organization” (AHO) in a pilot sample. In addition, AHO had been then tested as a motive for organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) using data collected from 245 pairs of employees in China.

Findings

Data from 124 pairs of employees in China have been used to develop and test the measurement of “altruistic helping of organization” in a pilot sample. The authors have proposed and validated whether procedural justice and conscientiousness predict for a new OCB motive – AHO, which explains for an incremental predictive power over the existing motives of OCB, namely, instrumentality, social exchange with the organization, organizational concern, prosocial values and impression management, on a data collected from 245 pairs of employees in China.

Research limitations/implications

This is a cross-sectional study. In addition, the authors have only taken in samples in China, which may not be generalizable to other context.

Practical implications

Practitioners can devote resources to encourage employees to help without any consideration of returns. In addition, the fairness perception of organizational practices – procedural justice and individual characteristics – are necessary to induce AHO and other OCB motives.

Social implications

This research provides that the social implication of arousing the basic underpinning of driving OCB is altruistic motive and not egoistic. This finding helps to stimulate individuals to have more helping behaviors towards the organization.

Originality/value

This study provides solid evidence for the suggestion by the original proponents of OCB that the distinction between rewarded and unrewarded criterion is blurred in OCB literature. Our findings suggest that altruistic helping does exist and that this explains for a significant proportion of extra-role behavior.