What makes a helpful and improvement-oriented colleague? : the role of perceived supervisor-organization value congruence in the relationship between leader-member exchange and organizational citizenship behaviour

Abstract

This study investigated whether perceived supervisor-organization value congruence (PVC) may serve as a moderator in the relationship between leadermember exchange (LMX) and organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB). The researchers used a recent conceptualization of social leader-member exchange (SLMX) and economic leader-member exchange (ELMX) as two separate dimensions of LMX, and differentiated between citizenship behaviour aimed towards the organization (OCB-O) and the immediate supervisor (OCB-I). A cross-lagged study among 192 employees from seven different organizations in Norway showed a positive relationship between SLMX and both OCB-I, and OCB-O, and a negative relationship between ELMX and OCB-I. Further, our findings suggest that PVC moderates the relationship between ELMX and OCBO. We found that employees who have a relationship with their supervisor characterized by high levels of ELMX, and at the same time perceive a low degree of value congruence between their immediate supervisor and employing organization, are less likely to engage in citizenship behaviour benefitting the organization, compared with those in low-level ELMX relationships. Future research directions, implications for practice and limitations are discussed. Keywords: perceived supervisor-organization value congruence; leader–member exchange; social exchange; organizational citizenship behaviour.