How does goal orientation affect job involvement? A dynamics perspective

Abstract

This study explores the dynamic nature of goal orientation and researches how goal orientation influences employee job involvement. The mediating effects of employee intrinsic motivation on the relationships between goal orientation and job involvement are examined. The results show that: Employee learning goal orientation is positively related to intrinsic motivation and job involvement; Teamwork goal orientation is positively related to intrinsic motivation and job involvement; Employee performance avoidance goal orientation is negatively related to intrinsic motivation and job involvement; Employee intrinsic motivation mediates the relationships of both learning goal orientation and performance avoidance goal orientation with job involvement. The results also show that intrinsic motivation only partially mediates the relationship between teamwork goal orientation and job involvement. Finally, contributions to goal orientation literature and implications for managerial practice are discussed.