Towards a better understanding of the link between participation in decision-making and organizational citizenship behaviour: A multilevel analysis

• Published in: Journal of occupational and organizational psychology 1999-09, Vol.72 (3), p.377-392
• Main Authors: Vanyperen, Nico W., van den Berg, Agnes E., Willering, Martijn C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Altruism; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Citizenship; Decision making; Departments; Employees; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Mediators; Netherlands; Occupational psychology; Organization and management. Professional relation; Organization theory; Organizational behavior; Participation; Perceptions; Process controls; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Questionnaires; Staring Centrum; Statistical analysis; Studies; Supervisors; Winand Staring Centre for Integrated Land, Soil and Water Research
• ISSN: 0963-1798; 2044-8325
• DOI: 10.1348/096317999166734

In the present study, two models were tested that can improve understanding of the link between participation in decision‐making and organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB). In Model 1, it is assumed that perceived supervisory support mediates the link between participation in decision‐making and OCB. In Model 2, organizational commitment is presented as the mediator variable. The sample (N = 142) was drawn from employees from 10 departments of a medium‐sized trade company in the Netherlands. To improve the reliability of the results, the data were subjected to multilevel analyses. Because no link was observed between commitment and OCB, Model 2 was rejected. In contrast, Model 1 was supported by the data, suggesting that participation in decision‐making promotes employees' sense of supervisory support to them, which made employees more likely to reciprocate by exhibiting OCB.