Dispositional predictors of Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Motives, motive fulfillment, and role identity

Constructs from a conceptual model of the volunteer process were applied to discretionary helping in the workplace (Organizational Citizenship Behavior or OCB). A total of 193 employees at 4 private companies completed anonymous surveys measuring amount of OCB, motives for engaging in citizenship behavior, and the extent to which those motives were fulfilled by the behavior. Also assessed was the degree to which respondents developed an organizational citizen role identity. Amount of OCB and the strength of a citizen identity correlated with two motives for helping, concern for coworkers and concern for the organization, as well as with the fulfillment of those motives. Impression management motives were related to citizenship behaviors directed toward coworkers but not to citizenship activities targeting the organization per se. Impression management goals also were unrelated to formation of a citizen role identity. The findings suggest that similar dispositional factors are involved in sustaining volunteerism and OCB.