Improving Organizational Citizenship Behavior through Spirituality and Work Engagement

Aminah Ahmad,Zoharah Omar

doi:10.3844/ajassp.2015.200.207

Aminah Ahmad, Zoharah Omar

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2015.200.207

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Abstract

The focus of previous studies on predictors of organizational citizenship behavior has been on individual, organizational and task characteristics as well as leadership behaviors. Despite the greater focus of previous studies on individual characteristics, little is known about the potential effect of spirituality on organizational citizenship behavior. Using the work engagement model and results from previous empirical studies, a framework was developed to examine the effect of workplace spirituality on organizational citizenship behavior through work engagement as the mediator. It is expected that workplace spirituality will have positive effects on organizational citizenship behavior and work engagement and work engagement will positively affect organizational citizenship behavior. According to the framework, when employees experience workplace spirituality, their engagement in work roles will be enhanced and they will be more likely to engage in citizenship behavior. The significance of this paper is that it offers a framework as well as hypotheses that could be tested and the framework implies that organizations should establish climates that are spiritually-rich, recognizing the potential predictive ability of workplace spirituality on organizational citizenship behavior and work engagement.

Highlights

Background of StudyOrganizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB), has been a subject of focus by researchers due to increasing evidence of OCB’s impact on organizational and individual performance (Dunlop and Lee, 2004; Podsakoff et al, 2009)
Considering studies on the spirituality-OCB link is limited, this paper intends to propose a framework on the effect of workplace spirituality, as an individual resource, on OCB and the mediating role of work engagement using the work engagement model by Bakker and Demerouti (2008) and previous empirical literature
Using the work engagement model by Bakker and Demerouti (2008) and results from previous studies, a research framework was developed on the relationship between workplace spirituality and organizational citizenship behavior with work engagement as the mediator

Summary

Introduction

Background of StudyOrganizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB), has been a subject of focus by researchers due to increasing evidence of OCB’s impact on organizational and individual performance (Dunlop and Lee, 2004; Podsakoff et al, 2009). Workplace spirituality which involves employees’ experience of finding ultimate meaning in work and sense of connectedness with organizational members (Gupta et al, 2013) began to be viewed as a new perspective towards understanding employee behavior including OCB and improve organizational performance. Considering studies on the spirituality-OCB link is limited, this paper intends to propose a framework on the effect of workplace spirituality, as an individual resource, on OCB and the mediating role of work engagement using the work engagement model by Bakker and Demerouti (2008) and previous empirical literature.

Results

Conclusion