University of Twente Student Theses

The effect of trustworthiness on the intention to perform OCB’s : a study into the effects of the perceived trustworthiness of a direct supervisor on employees’ intention to perform Organizational Citizenship Behaviour

Maanen, J.C. van (2014) The effect of trustworthiness on the intention to perform OCB’s : a study into the effects of the perceived trustworthiness of a direct supervisor on employees’ intention to perform Organizational Citizenship Behaviour.

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Abstract:	There have been several studies which focused on trust and organizational outcomes. However, there has been no research into the effects trust in a supervisor has on the intention of employees to perform Organizational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB), which is ‘behaviour that contributes indirectly to the organization through the maintenance of the organization’s social system’ (LePine, Erez, & Johnson, 2002, p. 52). This research used a 2x2x2 factorial design, in which respondents were randomly assigned to one out of eight scenarios. Scenarios were made using high or low variations of the three trustworthiness criteria (ability, benevolence, and integrity). Questionnaires were used to measure the intention of employees to perform forms of OCB (conscientiousness, sportsmanship, civic virtue, altruism, and courtesy). The results show that the distinct trustworthiness criteria do have influence on different dimensions of OCB, of which integrity has the most effect, followed by ability and lastly benevolence. No interaction effects were found. The results indicate that the three trustworthiness criteria should be considered separate in research to the effects on OCB. The results also show a significant difference between men and women concerning the effects trust has on OCB. The majority of the intentions to perform OCB’s were directed towards the company, and not towards other employees. This demonstrates that the distinction between OCB-I and OCB-O could be valid. The results validate some previous research in that trust in a supervisor mostly has an effect on OCB’s directed towards the company, but also contradict the findings from previous studies, for example the finding that trust has an effect on courtesy, which effect was not found in the present research. Implications of this research are that being perceived as trustworthy as a direct supervisor can increase organizational outcomes in the form of OCB’s of employees. Future research could focus on the different effect of trust between male and females, on clarifying the construct of OCB, and on the effect of perceived trustworthiness in the relation between employees and top-management.
Item Type:	Essay (Master)
Faculty:	BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:	05 communication studies
Programme:	Communication Studies MSc (60713)
Link to this item:	https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/65863
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