Stretch goals and unethical behavior: role of ambivalent identification and competitive psychological climate

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Chen ◽  
Zhe Zhang ◽  
Ming Jia

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the effect of stretch goals on unethical behavior and explore the mediating role of ambivalent identification and moderating role of competitive psychological climate.Design/methodology/approachA total of 350 MBA students from Northwestern China completed the two-phase survey. The bootstrapping analysis outlined by Hayes was used to assess a moderated mediation model.FindingsThis study found that stretch goals could trigger employees' unethical behavior via ambivalent identification. Competitive psychological climate intensified the relationship between stretch goals and ambivalent identification. Moreover, such a climate aggravated the indirect effect of stretch goals on unethical behavior via ambivalent identification.Practical implicationsOrganizations and managers should use stretch goals prudently and implement measures to reduce the ethical cost.Originality/valueThis study provides unique contributions by identifying ambivalent identification as an important mediator and competitive psychological climate as a boundary condition of stretch goals' disruptive effect on unethical behavior.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Liu ◽  
Lei Ren

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between challenge-hindrance stressors and employees’ career initiative while incorporating the mediating role of positive affect and the moderating role of job autonomy.Design/methodology/approachFive proposed hypotheses were tested using path analysis with two waves of data collected from 136 part-time MBA students.FindingsThe findings show that challenge stressors indirectly facilitate career initiative, whereas hindrance stressors indirectly inhibit career initiative, both with positive affect as mediators. Job autonomy enhances the direct relationship between positive affect and career initiative, as well as the indirect relationships among challenge/hindrance stressors, positive affect and career initiative.Originality/valueThe study brings a new perspective to understanding why an employee conducts career initiative, thereby widening the scope of the antecedents of career initiative. The study discloses positive affect as the mediator that transmits the opposite effects from challenge-hindrance stressors to career initiative. It also identifies job autonomy as an important boundary condition for positive affect to exert its influence on career initiative, as well as challenge-hindrance stressors that influence career initiative via positive affect.


2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 376-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Ahmed Shah ◽  
Muhammad Yasir ◽  
Abdul Majid ◽  
Muhammad Yasir ◽  
Asad Javed

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the ways in which strategic orientation (SO) and strategic renewal (SR) could create the possibility for improving strategic performance (SP). The indirect effect of SO was also tested in this study. Furthermore, by using the moderated mediation model, the authors also investigated the moderating role of organizational ambidexterity (OA). Design/methodology/approach The results of this cross-sectional study are based on a survey conducted on 1,430 owner/managers of SMEs. To analyze the relationship among variables, this study used descriptive, correlation and hierarchical multiple regression approach. Findings Results revealed that SO positively affects SR and SP in SMEs. Furthermore, the mediating role of SR between the relationships of SO and SP was also confirmed. Moreover, OA strengthens the connection between SO, SR and SP. Practical implications The current study provides new insights for strategic planning and management by focusing on SO along with its different dimensions. Therefore, it provides new guidelines and a roadmap that would be helpful in achieving the objectives of SP. Originality/value The study makes significant contributions to the extant literature by adding new knowledge about the positive impact of SO on SP. Moreover, with the analysis of mediating role of SR in this relationship, the study has made significant addition to the existing literature on SP. Furthermore, moderated mediation model adds value to the existing body of knowledge.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-219
Author(s):  
Chao Chen ◽  
Xinmei Liu

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of team-member exchange (TMX) differentiation on team creativity by developing a moderated mediation model. The model focuses on the mediating role of team proactivity in linking TMX differentiation with team creativity and the moderating role of leader-member exchange (LMX) median in influencing the mediation.Design/methodology/approachA time-lagged field survey data from 331 employees and 68 team leaders in more than ten high-technology firms from Northern China was used to test the model.FindingsResults indicated that the negative relationship between TMX differentiation and team creativity was mediated by team proactivity. Moderated mediation analyses further revealed that team proactivity mediated the relationship between TMX differentiation and team creativity for only those teams with a low-LMX median.Originality/valueThe empirical study provides preliminary evidence of the mediating role of team proactivity in the negative relationship between TMX differentiation and team creativity. The moderated mediation model also extends the existing finding by showing that LMX quality can moderate the indirect impact of TMX differentiation on team creativity (via team proactivity).


2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 798-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongdan Zhao

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of leader-member exchange (LMX) differentiation on team creativity by developing a moderated mediation model. The model focuses on the mediating role of relationship conflict in linking LMX differentiation with team creativity and the moderating role of team-member exchange (TMX) median in influencing the mediation. Design/methodology/approach – The authors tested the model with a time-lagged field survey data from 358 employees and 98 supervisors belonging to 98 teams in a large diversified company with more than 15,000 employees, based in Shanghai, Southeastern China. In the first stage (T1), employees assessed LMX, TMX, relationship conflict, and control variables. In the second stage (T2), the leaders were asked to report team creativity. Findings – Results indicated that the relationship between LMX differentiation and team creativity was mediated by relationship conflict. Moderated mediation analyses further revealed that relationship conflict mediated the relationship between LMX differentiation and team creativity for only those teams with low-TMX median. Research limitations/implications – Testing the moderated mediation model helps to advance our theoretical understanding of the intervening processes that underlie the effect of LMX differentiation on team creativity. The findings may also help Chinese managers to inform the importance of helping subordinates better adapt to LMX differentiation, reducing relationship conflict, and constructing high-quality TMX relationships within groups, in order to promote team creativity. Originality/value – This empirical study provides preliminary evidence of the mediating role of relationship conflict in the negative relationship between LMX differentiation and team creativity. The moderated mediation model also extends the existing finding by showing that not only the quality of social exchange relationships with a supervisor (i.e. LMX) but also with team members (i.e. TMX), can moderate the impact of LMX differentiation on team outcomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nagaraj Samala ◽  
Bharath Shashanka Katkam

Purpose Millennial generation is fashion inclined, interactive and informative social beings. They are very conscious of the brands they wear. Millennia seek, share, inform and exchange fashion brand-related information on social networking sites (SNS). Marketers are subsequently engaging the young prospects and customers to keep up or improve enthusiasm and participation. The study attempts to investigate the role of customer-brand engagement (CBE) of millennials with fashion brands on SNS. The study simultaneously tests the moderating role of involvement levels affecting participation and CBE leading to brand loyalty. Design/methodology/approach The study followed a purposive sample by collecting 466 respondents from the graduate students of a university. The study adopted structural equation modelling (SEM) and Hayes process macros in SPSS 20.0 to test the moderated-mediation model. Findings The study confirms the mediating role of CBE in the relationship between participation and brand loyalty. Different degrees of involvement moderate the mediating role of CBE. Higher levels of involvement enhance the positive effect of participation on CBE. Originality/value The study is first of its kind to investigate the role of CBE and involvement among the millennial group. It also contributes to the related theories like service-dominant logic, social exchange theory and consumer culture theory regarding a unique population group, which is promising and profitable.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nagaraj Samala ◽  
Sapna Singh

PurposeMillennials are more fashion conscious, relate themselves to the fashion brands they wear. This concept of brand engagement with self-concept (BESC) studies with other marketing variables yields interesting results. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of BESC with brand love and brand advocacy of millennials toward their favorite fashion brands. The study also tests the moderating role of millennials’ involvement and knowledge.Design/methodology/approachData are collected from 621 graduate student millennials of a university. Hayes process macros is used to test the moderated-mediation model.FindingsThe study confirms the complementary mediating role of BESC and enhances the moderating role of involvement and knowledge. Millennials with high involvement and knowledge enhance the positive relationship between brand love, BESC and brand advocacy.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the existing literature of self-concept theory and provides useful insights for fashion marketers about millennials.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1073-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emre Burak Ekmekcioglu ◽  
Enver Aydogan

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of organizational identification (OI) on the relationship between organizational justice (OJ) and turnover intention (TI), as well as the moderating role of psychological contract fulfillment (PCF) in those relationships. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 339 employees of a financial institution in Turkey. Regression analyses were conducted to investigate a moderated mediation model. Findings This study found that OI was partially mediated the relationship between OJ and TI. The results also indicated that the indirect effect of OJ on TI through OI was moderated by PCF. Research limitations/implications The generalizability of the findings is limited. As this study is cross-sectional, causal inferences cannot be inferred regarding the hypothesized relationships. Practical implications To reduce TI, organizations should ensure the fair allocation of resources and rewards among employees. Moreover, organizations should pay attention to the expectations of employees and the promises made to them in an attempt to fulfill psychological contract obligations. Originality/value This study explores the mediating role of OI in the relationship between OJ and TI. In addition, this research sheds light on the moderating role of PCF in this mediation model.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bert Schreurs ◽  
Melvyn R.W. Hamstra ◽  
I.M. Jawahar ◽  
Jos Akkermans

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to test the mediating role of relative deprivation in the relationship between perceived overqualification and counterproductive work behavior. In addition to testing this mediation, the authors posited that ambition would interact with perceived overqualification to predict relative deprivation and, through it, counterproductive work behavior.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data collected from 181 employees were analyzed using the SPSS macro PROCESS to test the proposed moderated mediation model.FindingsResults indicated that perceived overqualification positively associated with perceptions of relative deprivation, which were, in turn, positively related to counterproductive work behavior. This indirect relationship gained in strength with increasing levels of ambition.Originality/valueBy modeling and measuring relative deprivation, this study offers a direct test of the often-invoked relative deprivation explanation of the implications of perceived overqualification for counterproductive work behavior. The study also shows how ambition can have unintended consequences.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1069-1087
Author(s):  
Jinyun Duan ◽  
Zhaojun Guo ◽  
Chad Brinsfield

PurposeThis study draws on uncertainty management theory to advance our understanding of the relationship between leader integrity and employee voice.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected data in China by surveying 274 supervisor-subordinate dyads at two different points in time. In addition to the direct relationship between leader integrity and employee voice, they also examined the moderating effect of leader consultation and the mediating effect of perceived risk of voice.FindingsThe authors found that leader integrity had a positive effect on employee voice, and perceived risk of voice mediated this relationship. They also found that leader consultation moderated the relationship between leader integrity and employee voice, as well as moderating the mediating role of perceived risk of voice.Originality/valueAlthough prior research has examined the relationship between leadership and voice, it has not clearly explicated the effects of leader integrity on voice. In addition, the findings of this study regarding the moderating role of leader consultation, and the mediating role of perceived risk of voice, offer novel insights regarding the nature of the relationship between leader integrity and employee voice.


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