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The curvilinear impact of perceived organizational politics on employee voice behavior: Mediating role of territoriality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2023

Hao Zhou Open the ORCID record for Hao Zhou [Opens in a new window]  and
Qin Liu Open the ORCID record for Qin Liu [Opens in a new window]
Hao Zhou*
Affiliation:
Business School, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Road, Chengdu, China
Qin Liu
Affiliation:
Business School, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Road, Chengdu, China
*
Corresponding author: Hao Zhou, E-mail: zhouhao@scu.edu.cn
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Abstract

Organizational context has an important influence on voice behavior. This study investigates the curvilinear relationship between perceived organizational politics (POP) – an inevitable organizational context factor – and employee voice behavior through a conservation of resources theory lens, considering the curvilinear mediating role of territoriality. A three-wave survey of 227 full-time employees revealed that (1) POP is positively associated with territoriality, (2) territoriality has U-shaped relationships with both promotive and prohibitive voice, that is, when territoriality ranges from low to moderate, promotive/prohibitive voice behavior gradually decreases. When territoriality ranges from moderate to high, promotive/prohibitive voice behavior gradually increases and (3) territoriality acts as a curvilinear mediator between POP and promotive/prohibitive voice behavior. These findings make a significant contribution to POP literature and voice behavior literature by identifying territoriality as a mediator between these organizational factors. Implications for practice are also discussed.

Keywords

Conservation of resources theoryPerceived organizational politicsTerritorialityVoice behavior
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , First View , pp. 1 - 17
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press in association with the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management

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