The moderating role of message framing on the links between organizational identification and unethical pro-organizational behavior

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Alnıaçık E., Kelebek E. F., Alnıaçık Ü.

MANAGEMENT RESEARCH REVIEW, vol.45, no.4, pp.502-523, 2022 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 45 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1108/mrr-01-2021-0004
  • Journal Name: MANAGEMENT RESEARCH REVIEW
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, ABI/INFORM, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Index Islamicus, INSPEC
  • Page Numbers: pp.502-523
  • Keywords: Organizational identification, Unethical pro-organizational behavior, Message framing, Framing effect, Vignette methodology, Organizational behavior, Deviant workplace behavior, Management communication, COUNTERPRODUCTIVE WORK BEHAVIOR, TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP, TURNOVER INTENTION, BAD THINGS, COMMUNICATION, ORIENTATION, COMMITMENT, EMPLOYEES, DECISIONS, DEVIANCE
  • Kocaeli University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine how - if any - does message framing moderates the previously documented positive effect of organizational identification on unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB). Design/methodology/approach The authors used vignette methodology to manipulate message framing and organizational identification in a 2 x 2 between-subjects experimental design to test research hypotheses. In total, 332 undergraduate students in the senior year of banking and management participated in the experiment. Two-way analysis of variance was used for data analyses. Findings Message framing is found to moderate the effect of organizational identification on UPB. Organizational identification posed a stronger effect on intentions to engage UPB when a supervisor announces a critical situation by using a positively framed message than (s)he frames it negatively. Research limitations/implications Using undergraduate students as subjects is an important limitation to external validity and generalizability of the findings. More realistic field experiments can be conducted by using real employees and factual firms in future studies. Practical implications Managers should be careful when using over-motivating language to employees on critical issues. Under intense stress, a managerial message over-emphasizing "gain" can prompt highly identified employees to conduct misbehavior. Social implications Unethical behavior brings negative consequences for organizations, even if it is conducted for the benefit of the organization. To prevent any tendency toward UPB, management communication must clearly highlight the delicate boundary between being attached to the organization and going beyond the rules for the organizational goals. Originality/value The study findings shed more light on the relationship between organizational identification and UPB, allowing us to see that the relationship is not always linear. In addition to over-identification, reciprocity and neutralization processes, the framing may be another explanation to varying effect of organizational identification on UPB. Supervisors' communication style can influence employee behavior in controversial issues linked to UPB.