IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/abaman/v22y2023i4d10.1057_s41291-023-00216-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The nonlinear impact of perceptions of organizational politics on unethical pro-organizational behavior in Chinese culture: Moderating role of Zhongyong

Author

Listed:
  • Hao Zhou

    (Sichuan University)

  • Yang Ran

    (Sichuan University)

Abstract

In this study, we examined the relationship between perceptions of organizational politics (POP) and unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB), which is defined as the unethical behaviors adopted by employees to potentially benefit their organizations. Furthermore, we tested the moderating effect of Zhongyong, a traditional Chinese thinking style, on the POP–UPB relationship. Drawing on social learning theory, we hypothesized that POP has an inverted U-shaped relationship with UPB and that Zhongyong can have flattening and turning-point moderating impacts on this curvilinear relationship. In Study 1, a scenario-based experiment with a sample size of 95 was conducted to test the inverted U-shaped relationship between POP and UPB. In Study 2, we replicated the findings of Study 1 using a two-wave survey featuring 227 participants and further tested the moderating role of Zhongyong in this context. These findings improve our understanding of the influence of employees’ POP on their UPB.

Suggested Citation

  • Hao Zhou & Yang Ran, 2023. "The nonlinear impact of perceptions of organizational politics on unethical pro-organizational behavior in Chinese culture: Moderating role of Zhongyong," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(4), pages 1544-1566, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:22:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1057_s41291-023-00216-7
    DOI: 10.1057/s41291-023-00216-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41291-023-00216-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41291-023-00216-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xiaoyu Wang & Xiaotong (Janey) Zheng & Shuming Zhao, 2022. "Repaying the Debt: An Examination of the Relationship between Perceived Organizational Support and Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior by Low Performers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(3), pages 697-709, September.
    2. Madhurima Mishra & Koustab Ghosh & Dheeraj Sharma, 2022. "Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(1), pages 63-87, August.
    3. De Clercq, Dirk & Belausteguigoitia, Imanol, 2017. "Mitigating the negative effect of perceived organizational politics on organizational citizenship behavior: Moderating roles of contextual and personal resources," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(5), pages 689-708, September.
    4. Max Nathan & Neil Lee, 2013. "Cultural Diversity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship: Firm-level Evidence from London," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 89(4), pages 367-394, October.
    5. Binyao Ning & Rosmini Omar & Ye Ye & Hiram Ting & Man Ning, 2021. "The role of Zhong-Yong thinking in business and management research: a review and future research agenda," Asia Pacific Business Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(2), pages 150-179, March.
    6. Pan, Wen & Sun, Li-Yun, 2018. "A Self-Regulation Model of Zhong Yong Thinking and Employee Adaptive Performance," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(1), pages 135-159, March.
    7. Cardon, Melissa S. & Stevens, Christopher E. & Potter, D. Ryland, 2011. "Misfortunes or mistakes?: Cultural sensemaking of entrepreneurial failure," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 79-92, January.
    8. Cheng, Ken & Wei, Feng & Lin, Yinghui, 2019. "The trickle-down effect of responsible leadership on unethical pro-organizational behavior: The moderating role of leader-follower value congruence," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 34-43.
    9. Sumbol Fiaz & Muhammad Azeem Qureshi, 2021. "How perceived organizational politics cause work-to-family conflict? Scoping and systematic review of literature," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-18, December.
    10. Elizabeth E. Umphress & John B. Bingham, 2011. "When Employees Do Bad Things for Good Reasons: Examining Unethical Pro-Organizational Behaviors," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(3), pages 621-640, June.
    11. Jo Thori Lind & Halvor Mehlum, 2010. "With or Without U? The Appropriate Test for a U‐Shaped Relationship," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 72(1), pages 109-118, February.
    12. Naseer Abbas Khan & Ali Nawaz Khan & Summan Gul, 2019. "Relationship between perception of organizational politics and organizational citizenship behavior: testing a moderated mediation model," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 18(2), pages 122-141, April.
    13. K. Kacmar & Martha Andrews & Kenneth Harris & Bennett Tepper, 2013. "Ethical Leadership and Subordinate Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Organizational Politics and the Moderating Role of Political Skill," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 115(1), pages 33-44, June.
    14. Richard F. J. Haans & Constant Pieters & Zi-Lin He, 2016. "Thinking about U: Theorizing and testing U- and inverted U-shaped relationships in strategy research," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(7), pages 1177-1195, July.
    15. George Gotsis & Zoe Kortezi, 2010. "Ethical Considerations in Organizational Politics: Expanding the Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 93(4), pages 497-517, June.
    16. Katrina Graham & Jonathan Ziegert & Johnna Capitano, 2015. "The Effect of Leadership Style, Framing, and Promotion Regulatory Focus on Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(3), pages 423-436, February.
    17. Linus Jonathan Vem & Jun-Hwa Cheah & Siew Imm Ng & Jo Ann Ho, 2022. "Unethical pro-organizational behavior: how employee ethical ideology and unethical organizational culture contribute," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 44(4), pages 577-598, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Soojin Lee & Jinhee Kim & Gukdo Byun, 2021. "Are Leaders’ Perceptions of Organizational Politics Worsening Favorable Employee Outcomes? The Role of Ethical Leadership," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-10, September.
    2. Changqin Yin & Yajun Zhang & Lu Lu, 2021. "Employee-Oriented CSR and Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior: The Role of Perceived Insider Status and Ethical Climate Rules," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Madhurima Mishra & Koustab Ghosh & Dheeraj Sharma, 2022. "Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(1), pages 63-87, August.
    4. Erk P. Piening & Ferdinand Thies & Michael Wessel & Alexander Benlian, 2021. "Searching for Success—Entrepreneurs’ Responses to Crowdfunding Failure," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(3), pages 626-657, May.
    5. Ye, Silin & Zhou, Jing & Jiang, Yunwen & Liu, Xiaming, 2023. "Managers as the bridge: How cultural friction influences the integration of cross-border mergers and acquisitions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).
    6. Xiaodong Teng & Kun-Shan Wu & Lopin Kuo & Bao-Guang Chang, 2023. "Investigating the double-edged sword effect of environmental, social and governance practices on corporate risk-taking in the high-tech industry," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 14(2), pages 511-549, June.
    7. Zhou, Dan & Yan, Tingting & Zhao, Lilong & Guo, Jingjing, 2020. "Performance implications of servitization: Does a Manufacturer's service supply network matter?," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 31-42.
    8. Fischer, Denise & Greven, Andrea & Tornow, Mark & Brettel, Malte, 2021. "On the value of effectuation processes for R&D alliances and the moderating role of R&D alliance experience," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 606-619.
    9. Carboni, Oliviero A. & Medda, Giuseppe, 2021. "External R&D and product innovation: Is over-outsourcing an issue?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    10. Lau, Patricia Yin Yin & Tong, Jane L.Y. Terpstra & Lien, Bella Ya-Hui & Hsu, Yen-Chen & Chong, Chooi Ling, 2017. "Ethical work climate, employee commitment and proactive customer service performance: Test of the mediating effects of organizational politics," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 20-26.
    11. White, George O. & Rajwani, Tazeeb & Krammer, Sorin M.S., 2022. "Legal distance and entrepreneurial orientation of foreign subsidiaries: Evidence from Southeast Asia," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(6).
    12. Daniel R Clark & Dan Li & Dean A Shepherd, 2018. "Country familiarity in the initial stage of foreign market selection," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(4), pages 442-472, May.
    13. Mingchuan Yu & Han Lin & Greg G. Wang & Yuan Liu & Xiaotao Zheng, 2022. "Is too much as bad as too little? The S-curve relationship between corporate philanthropy and employee performance," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 39(4), pages 1511-1534, December.
    14. Liu, Dewen & Han, Shenghao & Zhang, Jieqiong, 2022. "The golden mean: Research on the mechanism of customer participation in employee service innovation," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    15. Steffen Runge & Christian Schwens & Matthias Schulz, 2022. "The invention performance implications of coopetition: How technological, geographical, and product market overlaps shape learning and competitive tension in R&D alliances," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(2), pages 266-294, February.
    16. Lamotte, Olivier & Chalençon, Ludivine & Mayrhofer, Ulrike & Colovic, Ana, 2021. "Intangible resources and cross-border acquisition decisions: The impact of reputation and the moderating effect of experiential knowledge," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 297-310.
    17. Gotsopoulos, Aleksios & Pitsakis, Konstantinos, 2024. "United we stand? Organizational groups and spinoff mortality in the context of academic entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 39(1).
    18. Dimakopoulou, A.G. & Gkypali, A. & Tsekouras, K., 2024. "Technological and non-technological innovation synergies under the lens of absorptive capacity efficiency," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    19. Mengyao Xia & Bangzhu Zhu & Helen Huifen Cai, 2023. "Does duration of team governance decrease corporate carbon emission intensity," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1363-1388, May.
    20. Anu Wadhwa & Isabel Maria Bodas Freitas & M. B. Sarkar, 2017. "The Paradox of Openness and Value Protection Strategies: Effect of Extramural R&D on Innovative Performance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(5), pages 873-896, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:22:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1057_s41291-023-00216-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.