What causes 'Good Soldier' Behavior?

Abstract

Researchers in organizational behaviors have long been interested in exploring behaviors benefiting to organisations and sought to better understand the relation with work engagement. This study aims at understanding the role of the three components of organizational commitment (i.e., affective, normative, and continuance commitment) and job satisfaction as a mediator between work engagement and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors (OCB). Within this cross-sectional study, the data (N =151) was analyzed via a parallel mediation analysis using the PROCESS-tool. Drawing upon the Social Exchange Theory, the current study found evidence that work engagement positively relates to OCB. Moreover, affective commitment was found to partially mediate the relation between work engagement and OCB. However, normative and continuance commitment were not found to mediate the relationship. In addition, job satisfaction was not a significant mediator through which work engagement affects OCB. This study contributes to existing literature as it is among the first to provide insight into the role of all three components of organizational commitment and job satisfaction on the proposed work engagement – OCB relation. Implications for results and suggestions for further research are discussed. As affective commitment is found to mediate the relation between work engagement and OCB, the importance of identification with, involvement in, and emotional attachment towards organizations is underlined for managers and organizations in order to increase OCB among engaged employees.