Embeddedness and Perceived Oneness: Examining the Effects of Job Embeddedness and Its Trajectory on Employee Proactivity via an Identification Perspective

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Li, Junchao (Jason); Mitchell, Terence R.; Lee, Thomas W.; Eberly, Marion B.; Shi, Lihua
• 署名单位: Rutgers University System; Rutgers University New Brunswick; Rutgers University Newark; University of Washington; University of Washington Seattle; University of Washington; University of Washington Tacoma; Guangzhou University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/apl0000961
• 发表日期: 2022
• 页码: 1020-1030
• 关键词: JOB EMBEDDEDNESS; ORGANIZATIONAL IDENTIFICATION; PROACTIVITY; trajectory; field theory

摘要

Although job embeddedness has consistently been shown to be associated with positive workplace behaviors, our theoretical understanding of such associations remains far behind our empirical knowledge. In particular, it is unclear how job embeddedness goes beyond its common conceptualization as stuckness to motivate employees' discretionary, change-oriented behaviors at work. To this end, we trace the original theoretical foundation of job embeddedness theory in field theory and establish its theoretical connection to social identity theory. We propose that increased organizational identification is an intrinsic psychological mechanism through which job embeddedness motivates proactive behaviors from employees. Further informed by field theory, we also examine the implications of job embeddedness change over time. We propose that a more positive trajectory of embeddedness over time contributes to enhanced organizational identification and employee proactivity, above and beyond the absolute level of embeddedness. We report a longitudinal study that surveyed 264 employees at three points in time over the course of 1 year and provide substantial support for the hypotheses. Implications of our work are discussed.