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Guanxi circle and organizational citizenship behavior: Context of a Chinese workplace

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  • Jar-Der Luo

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Meng-Yu Cheng

    (Feng-Chia University)

  • Tian Zhang

    (Tsinghua University)

Abstract

According to leader-member exchange (LMX) theory, good vertical working relations encourage organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) that benefits organizations. But how does supervisor-subordinate guanxi influence employees’ extra-role behaviors in relation to organizational interests? To answer this question, this paper examines a particular structural phenomenon in the context of the Chinese workplace. Guanxi circles (the phenomenon under investigation) are ego-centered guanxi networks with a powerful person at the center. Although a circle leader and his or her group members exchange favors for private goals, they need to actively balance their own interests with the interests of people/groups outside the guanxi circle; so as to maintain a harmonious relationship with the larger network. For this reason, extra-role performance benefiting the larger network is encouraged in the management of a guanxi circle. By studying survey data from China, we demonstrate how a wide variety of circle roles facilitate extra-role performance, and ultimately benefit the organization as a whole. Circle bridges have higher OCB toward organizations (OCB-O) than peripheral members of a circle, who in turn have higher OCB-O than core members of the same circle.

Suggested Citation

  • Jar-Der Luo & Meng-Yu Cheng & Tian Zhang, 2016. "Guanxi circle and organizational citizenship behavior: Context of a Chinese workplace," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 33(3), pages 649-671, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:asiapa:v:33:y:2016:i:3:d:10.1007_s10490-016-9479-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10490-016-9479-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Ju, Wei & Zhou, Xiaohu & Wang, Shuaibin, 2019. "The impact of scholars’ guanxi networks on entrepreneurial performance—The mediating effect of resource acquisition," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 521(C), pages 9-17.
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