Antecedents of Organizational Citizenship Behaviors: Evolution of Research

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the article is to explore the patterns underlying the antecedents discussed in OCB studies between 1980 and 2018 to reveal and discuss possible existence of a common framework created by variables which show positive or negative relationship with organizational citizenship behaviors. Design/methodology/approach: The research aims at filling the gap in the body of knowledge by clarifying the issue of OCB’s antecedents with the use of the chronological systematic literature review of scientific output in the field between 1980 and 2018, reviewing each decade separately and searching for common patterns shown by variables. Findings: Variables impacting OCB might come from three different levels. Directions from which antecedents come were named as individual, organizational, and environmental. Above-mentioned create a framework for interrelations which are complex and often create synergies. Research and practical implications: Discussed interrelations between different levels of antecedents and antecedents themselves should be further verified theoretically and empirically. Scholars in their future studies should take into consideration the existence of different levels of antecedents and interrelations between them. The most important managerial implication is that the leaders and managers at different levels on organization should and can much easier acknowledge and observe dynamics of the general framework of antecedents rather than how single variables based on numerous theories impact the behavior of each worker. Originality/value: The study reviewed literature related to the concept of organizational citizenship behavior including brief introduction to its roots and definition, and most importantly the systematic literature review of some of the variables impacting OCB named here antecedents. Such an in-depth theoretical analysis is an important contribution to the field and shows that framework is not as simple as they were previously perceived. Paper type: Review