Search results
1 – 10 of 400Arathi Krishna, Devi Soumyaja and Joshy Joseph
A workplace bullying dynamic involving multiple individuals targeting victims can lead to the victim losing emotional bonds or affect-based trust with their colleagues, resulting…
Abstract
Purpose
A workplace bullying dynamic involving multiple individuals targeting victims can lead to the victim losing emotional bonds or affect-based trust with their colleagues, resulting in employee silence. The literature has largely ignored this negative aspect of social dynamics. This study aims to examine the relationship between workplace bullying and employee silence behaviors and determine whether affect-based trust mediates this relationship and whether climate for conflict management moderates the mediated relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Hypotheses are tested using surveys and scenario-based experiments among faculty members in Indian Universities. There were 597 participants in the survey and 166 in the scenario-based experiment.
Findings
Results revealed that workplace bullying correlated positively with silence behaviors, and affect-based trust mediated the bullying-silence relationship. The hypothesized moderated mediation condition was partially supported as moderated the mediating pathway, i.e. indirect effects of workplace bullying on defensive silence and ineffectual silence via affect-based trust were weaker for employees with high climate for conflict management. However, the study failed to support the moderation of climate for conflict management in the relationship between workplace bullying and affect-based trust and workplace bullying and relational silence. The results of this moderated effect of climate for conflict management were similar in both studies.
Originality/value
This study is one of the few attempts to examine employee silence in response to workplace bullying in academia. Additionally, the study revealed a critical area of trust depletion associated with bullying and the importance of employee perceptions of fairness toward their institutions’ dispute resolution processes.
Details
Keywords
Xuanfang Hou, Yanshan Zhou, Xinxin Lu and Qiao Yuan
This study aims to examine the effect of supervisor developmental feedback on employee silence behaviour by developing a moderated mediation model. The model focuses on the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the effect of supervisor developmental feedback on employee silence behaviour by developing a moderated mediation model. The model focuses on the mediating role of role breadth self-efficacy and high activated positive affect underpinning the relationship between supervisor developmental feedback and employee silence behaviour, and the moderating role of interdependent self-construal.
Design/methodology/approach
The two-wave survey was conducted among 265 employees. Structural equation modelling was conducted to test the mediation and moderation mediation hypotheses.
Findings
Results indicated that high activated positive affect mediated the negative relationship between supervisor developmental feedback and employee silence behaviour. The authors also found that interdependent self-construal moderated the relationship between supervisor developmental feedback and role breadth self-efficacy, as well as the indirect effect of supervisor developmental feedback on employee silence behaviour via role breadth self-efficacy.
Originality/value
This empirical study provides preliminary evidence of the mediating role of breadth self-efficacy and high activated positive affect in the negative relationship between supervisor developmental feedback and employee silence behaviour. The moderated mediation results further show that the mediation of role breadth self-efficacy between supervisor developmental feedback is contingent on individual interdependent self-construal, such that the mediation effect is significant among individuals with high interdependent self-construal, but the mediation effect of high activated positive effect is independent of individual interdependent self-construal. The findings further extend boundary conditions (interdependent self-construal) that may constrain the effect of supervisor developmental feedback on role breadth self-efficacy and high activated positive affect. The research makes considerable contributions to the cognitive-affective personality system theory by specifying the cognitive and affective mechanisms between supervisor developmental feedback and employee silence behaviour, as well as the boundary conditions.
Details
Keywords
Ana Sabino, Sónia P. Gonçalves and Francisco Cesário
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of organizational cynicism on prosocial voice and defensive silence and to verify the mediating role of workplace…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of organizational cynicism on prosocial voice and defensive silence and to verify the mediating role of workplace bullying in these relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey design with a sample of 205 individuals was used in this study.
Findings
The hypotheses were confirmed as organizational cynicism plays a significant and negative influence on prosocial voice and a significant and positive influence on defensive silence. In addition, workplace bullying partially mediates both relationships.
Originality/value
This study contributes to a deeper understanding of organizational cynicism and workplace bullying influences on prosocial voice and defensive silence. It investigates a relationship that, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, has not been studied yet. It also contributes to the discussion regarding the close relationship between prosocial voice and defensive silence.
Details
Keywords
Sadia Jahanzeb, Dave Bouckenooghe, Tasneem Fatima and Madiha Akram
Drawing on social exchange literature, this study explores the mediating role of affective commitment between employees' assessments of contract breaches and opportunistic…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on social exchange literature, this study explores the mediating role of affective commitment between employees' assessments of contract breaches and opportunistic silence, along with the invigorating effect of hostile attribution bias.
Design/methodology/approach
We tested the hypotheses using multi-wave data collected from employees working in higher education institutions in Pakistan.
Findings
Perceived contract breaches elicit intentional, selfish and retaliatory motives of silence, largely because employees lack emotional attachments to their organization. This mechanism is more prominent among employees who tend to blame others and perceive them as antagonistic even when they are not.
Practical implications
For human resource managers, this investigation highlights a crucial feature – affective commitment – by which employees' perceptions of psychological contract breaches facilitate opportunistic silence. Our results suggest that this process is more likely to intensify when employees have distorted thinking, motivating them to attribute the worst motives to their employer's actions.
Social implications
Perceived contract breaches within universities can have far-reaching societal consequences, affecting trust, reputation, economic stability, and the overall quality and accessibility of education and research. Addressing and preventing such breaches is essential to maintaining the positive societal role of universities.
Originality/value
This study provides novel insights into the process that underlies the connection between perceived contract breach and opportunistic silence by revealing the hitherto overlooked role of employees' hostile attribution bias, which renders them more susceptible to experiencing unfavorable forms of social exchange.
Details
Keywords
This research aims to examine the ways and the extent to which social media platforms undermine the spiral of silence by facilitating the expression of diverse voices and opinions.
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to examine the ways and the extent to which social media platforms undermine the spiral of silence by facilitating the expression of diverse voices and opinions.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of closed groups focused on non-consensus topics.
Findings
Facebook closed group members perceive the media as isolating and portraying their issues negatively. However, these groups offer support, inclusion and non-judgmental opinion-sharing space. Consequently, members feel more comfortable discussing and sharing the topic outside the group, indicating a slight trend of challenging and undermining the spiral of silence through social networks.
Research limitations/implications
The study faces challenges in comparing diverse groups due to unique circumstances, complex needs and societal attitudes. Each group stands alone, potentially yielding slightly different findings.
Practical implications
Social media challenges and undermines the spiral of silence, as these opinions are shared with the wider society and can even find their way back to mainstream media outlets. Thus, social media platforms play a significant role in disrupting the spiral of silence and facilitating the expression of diverse opinions that may have been previously suppressed.
Social implications
This research emphasizes the critical role of social media in shaping public opinion and its interaction with the broader media landscape, illustrating a circular process where social media disrupts the spiral of silence by facilitating the expression of previously suppressed diverse opinions, which can then potentially influence mainstream media.
Originality/value
This study adds value by exploring how social media platforms can challenge and undermine the spiral of silence, enabling the expression of diverse, marginalized and underrepresented opinions in society. It highlights the role of social media in shaping public opinion and discourse, challenging the dominance of traditional media. Its originality emanates from its revelations concerning the legitimization of conversational topics, which may consequently affect media agendas.
Details
Keywords
Talat Islam, Farheen Rizvi, Waqas Farooq and Ishfaq Ahmed
The practice of cronyism is a pervasive problem for most businesses and a great hindrance for employees, but empirical literature on its outcomes is scant. In light of such gaps…
Abstract
Purpose
The practice of cronyism is a pervasive problem for most businesses and a great hindrance for employees, but empirical literature on its outcomes is scant. In light of such gaps, the objective of this study is to examine the relationship between organizational cronyism and employees' silence behavior through the mediating role of felt violation and the moderating role of continuance commitment.
Design/methodology/approach
A time-lagged cross-sectional survey comprising 226 respondents is carried out in a metropolitan city of a developing country (Lahore, Pakistan). The respondents were selected using the convenience sampling technique.
Findings
The findings reveal that organizational cronyism influences employees' silence (acquiescent and quiescent) both directly and indirectly (via felt violation). However, continuance commitment was noted to work as a boundary condition only between felt violation and quiescent silence.
Research limitations/implications
Although the study deals with common method bias by collecting data in two waves, it may restrict causality. The findings not only have implications for the academicians, but also contribute to the conservation of resources theory. This study suggests organizations develop and implement a comprehensive intervention strategy that focuses on both prevention and damage control as a result of organizational cronyism.
Originality/value
Drawing upon the conservation of resources theory, this study adds value to the literature by empirically investigating the outcomes of cronyism at work. Moreover, the outcomes and mechanisms under consideration have largely been ignored in the literature.
Details
Keywords
Talat Islam, Aiman Asif, Saqib Jamil and Hafiz Fawad Ali
This study aims to investigate how abusive supervisor affects knowledge hiding (KH). Specifically, this study investigates employee silence as a mediating mechanism between…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate how abusive supervisor affects knowledge hiding (KH). Specifically, this study investigates employee silence as a mediating mechanism between abusive supervision and employees’ KH. Further, psychological ownership is examined as a buffer between abusive supervision and employee silence.
Design/methodology/approach
KH has become a major issue for both manufacturing and service sectors. Therefore, this study collected data from 322 employees working in manufacturing and service sectors through “Google Forms” during COVID-19. The respondents were contacted through LinkedIn platform between January and July 2021.
Findings
This study noted that when employees working in high-power distance cultures perceive their leaders/supervisors as abusive, they avoid confrontation and engage in silent behavior, which positively affects their KH behavior. However, employees with a high level of psychological ownership are less likely to respond to their abusive supervisors through silence because such employees feel a greater sense of belongingness and prefer to benefit their organization.
Research limitations/implications
This study used a cross-sectional design that restricts causality. However, the findings of this study suggest management to focus on leadership style to minimize KH at the workplace.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to explore the underlying mechanism (employee silence) and boundary condition (psychological ownership) to explain the association between abusive supervision and KH.
Details
Keywords
Fatima Saeed Al-Dhuhouri, Faridahwati Mohd-Shamsudin and Shaker Bani-Melhem
The literature on workplace ostracism lacks the integration of the antecedents and consequences of ostracism in a single study, hindering a holistic picture of how perceived…
Abstract
Purpose
The literature on workplace ostracism lacks the integration of the antecedents and consequences of ostracism in a single study, hindering a holistic picture of how perceived workplace ostracism (PWO) emerges and subsequently hampering theoretical development and practical intervention. Based on this critical gap, we examine the effect of person-organization unfit and interpersonal distrust as potential antecedents of PWO, which we propose to affect employee silence. Furthermore, we highlight PWO as a mediator linking interpersonal distrust and person-organization unfit to employee silence. In addition, we further investigate the boundary condition of ethical leadership to address when the effect of PWO on employee silence can be potentially mitigated.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data were collected from 242 service industry employees in the United Arab Emirates, and analyzed using PLS-SEM.
Findings
Both person-organization unfit and interpersonal distrust lead to PWO, increasing employee silence. Feeling ostracized serves as a mediator, linking interpersonal distrust and person-organization unfit to employee silence. Ethical leadership moderates this, reducing the ostracism’s impact on silence, showcasing its value in mitigating harmful workplace dynamics.
Practical implications
The study is useful for organizations and managers as it illustrates the causes and consequence of PWO and provides practical solutions.
Originality/value
This study is one of the scarce endeavors to holistically investigate workplace ostracism by testing its antecedents and consequence in a single model. Furthermore, it explores person-organization unfit as a novel antecedent of PWO.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual reflection based on the author’s personal research experience, reading of the literature and contact with the academic…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual reflection based on the author’s personal research experience, reading of the literature and contact with the academic education of emerging scholars.
Design/methodology/approach
In this reflection on the paper “Accounting for tacit coordination: The passing of accounts and the broader case for accounting theory” (Vollmer, 2019), the author argues that the silences of the qualitative empirical management accounting research process may preclude research from understanding the silences of accounting practitioners and shape the trajectory of the discipline as a whole.
Findings
The author presents a slightly exaggerated depiction of the qualitative empirical management accounting research process. From this, the author infers what impedes empirically studying unorthodox phenomena such as the silences of accounting practitioners.
Originality/value
The author offers a critical perspective on the author’s own research process, using accounting silences as way of reflecting on the potential and limitations of empirical research. Finally, the author makes tentative suggestions for opening up the standard research process.
Details
Keywords
Balakrishna Ballekura and Lavanya Vilvanathan
The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between workplace incivility (WIN) and ineffectual employee silence (IES) through rationalized knowledge-hiding (RKH…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between workplace incivility (WIN) and ineffectual employee silence (IES) through rationalized knowledge-hiding (RKH) and regulation of emotion, drawing on the conservation of resources (COR) and social exchange theory (SET).
Design/methodology/approach
The study employed a cross-sectional design and used the partial least squares (PLS)-structural equational modeling (SEM) algorithm to test the reliability, validity of the measurement and hypotheses using a sample of 252 information technology (IT) professionals.
Findings
The results demonstrate that experienced WIN and RKH behavior significantly exacerbate IES. On the other side, the regulation of emotion decreases the negative influence of WIN and aids in the reduction of IES.
Practical implications
The study suggests that organizations should take appropriate measures to alleviate WIN, which might prevent concealing information/knowledge, IES and encourage employees to practice regulation of emotion.
Originality/value
The study significantly contributes to the relationship between uncivil behavior and ES and expands the knowledge on the mediating roles of RKH and regulation of emotion.
Details