Cultural uncertainty as moderator of the organizational formalization puzzle

Hassan, Arif (2016) Cultural uncertainty as moderator of the organizational formalization puzzle. In: 76th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management Conference, 5th-9th August 2016, Anaheim, California, USA. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Examining the complex role of formalization within a globalized context, we develop and test a new multi-level theory to address the positive and negative effects of formalization on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). We review classic assumptions of culture-fit theories that argue that organizational practices are most effective if they match the larger technological and cultural context. We argue that there is a complex dynamic in that formalization has negative associations with OCB in national contexts that are relatively certain but positive associations with OCB in contexts of higher environmental uncertainty. A three-level hierarchical linear modeling analysis of data from 7,537 employees in 267 organizations across 17 countries supports our hypotheses. In nations with greater levels of uncertainty, formalization is positively associated with voice OCB. Effects on helping are more complex and appear masked by other culture-level dimensions. Our findings emphasize the need for further study of the dynamics between national contexts, organizational cultures and individual behavior.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Plenary Papers)
Additional Information:	2898/53791
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Formalization, cultural uncertainty, organizational citizenship behavior
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5001 Business. Business Administration > HF5549 Personnel management
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences > Department of Business Administration
Depositing User:	Prof. Arif Hassan
Date Deposited:	06 Jan 2017 09:31
Last Modified:	06 Jan 2017 09:31
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/53791

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