Work Context Paradox: Juggling Job Demands and Proactive Behavior

Abstract

The main purpose of this thesis was to answer following question: would employees engage in proactive behavior, when they are confronted with high job demand? Thus, the relationship between both dimensions of job demand (quantitative job demand and qualitative job demand) and proactive behavior was investigated. Moreover, focal employee's goal orientation, as well as autonomy support from supervisor was considered as contextual factors that influence job demand-proactive behavior relationship. Based on the data collected from 173 R&D Chinese members, the result of the current study revealed that quantitative job demand was not linearly related to proactive behavior, whereas qualitative job demand had a positive association with proactive behavior. Moreover, employee goal orientation and autonomy support was found to be important factors that moderate job demand- proactive behavior relationship.