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When and why people engage in different forms of proactive behavior: interactive effects of self-construals and work characteristics

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  • Wu, Chia-Huei
  • Parker, Sharon
  • Wu, Long-Zeng
  • Lee, Cynthia

Abstract

When and why do people engage in different forms of proactive behavior at work? We propose that, as a result of a process of trait activation, employees with different types of self-construal engage in distinct forms of proactive behavior if they work in environments consistent with their self-construals. In an experimental Study 1 (N = 61), we examined the effect of self-construals on proactivity and found that people primed with interdependent self-construals engaged in more work unit-oriented proactive behavior when job interdependence also was manipulated. Priming independent self-construals did not enhance career-oriented proactive behavior, even when we manipulated job autonomy. In a field Study 2 (N = 205), we found that employees with interdependent self-construals working in jobs with high interdependence reported higher work unit commitment and higher work unit-oriented proactive behavior than employees in low interdependent jobs. Employees with independent self-construals working in jobs with high autonomy also exhibited stronger career commitment and more career-oriented proactive behavior than those in jobs with low autonomy. This research offers a theoretical framework to explain how dispositional and situational factors interactively shape people's engagement in different forms of proactive behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu, Chia-Huei & Parker, Sharon & Wu, Long-Zeng & Lee, Cynthia, 2017. "When and why people engage in different forms of proactive behavior: interactive effects of self-construals and work characteristics," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 71991, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:71991
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andreas Klein & Helfried Moosbrugger, 2000. "Maximum likelihood estimation of latent interaction effects with the LMS method," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 65(4), pages 457-474, December.
    2. Shipp, Abbie J. & Edwards, Jeffrey R. & Lambert, Lisa Schurer, 2009. "Conceptualization and measurement of temporal focus: The subjective experience of the past, present, and future," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 110(1), pages 1-22, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Li Zhao & Wei Li & Hongru Zhang, 2022. "Career Adaptability as a Strategy to Improve Sustainable Employment: A Proactive Personality Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-20, October.
    2. Myia S. Williams & Cong Liu, 2023. "Who Am I and Where Do I Belong? The Impact of Heritage Cultural Identity Salience on Immigrant Workers Acculturation Strategies," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 793-815, June.
    3. Pablo Fernández-Arias & Álvaro Antón-Sancho & Diego Vergara & Amelia Barrientos, 2021. "Soft Skills of American University Teachers: Self-Concept," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-25, November.
    4. Shathees Baskaran & Rohaida Basiruddin & Siti Zaleha Abdul Rasid & Haliyana Khalid & Tan Sui Hong, 2018. "Resource and Time Availability: An Imperious Stimulus for Entrepreneurial Orientation?," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 8(2), pages 244-261, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Self-construal; Job design; Proactive behavior; Trait activation; Commitment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General

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