When German Soldiers Disobey for the Sake of the Troop: Examining Pro-Organizational Misbehavior

Abstract

Based on the German Federal Armed Forces’ leadership philosophy “Auftragstaktik” (i.e., mission-command), we introduce pro-organizational misbehavior (POM) as a new type of functional organizational misbehavior. POM refers to subordinates’ deviant acts against their superiors’ orders with the aim to benefit the troop. The German military considers POM, i.e. subordinates’ disobedience, as beneficial for overall mission accomplishment under specific circumstances. POM is warranted when superiors’ orders either contradict mission objectives (e.g., due to changing battle conditions) or when superiors’ are unable to convey their orders in time (e.g., due to technical problems). POM thus allows for flexible reactions to changing circumstances within VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) environments. Applying the theory of reasoned action, we identify three distinct motivational drivers of soldiers’ pro-organizational misbehavior: (1) instrumental attitude, (2) felt moral obligation, and (3) role obligation. Taken the threats to organizational performance by VUCA environments, our discussion of POM and its driving forces contributes not only to the context of military but also to organizational leadership. Furthermore, we contribute to this year’s AOM theme Improving Lives, as POM allows subordinate soldiers to protect their comrades’ live in battle situations when the obedience to predefined orders may cause harm to the troop.