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Exploring the Influence of ESG Activities on Organizational Citizenship Behavior in IT Manufacturing Companies: Mediating Effects of Organizational Commitment and Identification

Author

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  • Soo-Cheol Jeong

    (Korea Knowledge Management Institute, Changwon National University, 20, Changwondaehak-Ro Uichang-Gu, Changwon 51140, Republic of Korea)

  • Dong-Seop Chung

    (Department of Business Administration, Kyungsung University, Suyoung-Ro 309, Nam-Gu, Busan 48434, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

This study examines how employees’ perceptions of environmental (E), social (S), and governance (G) activities shape organizational commitment (OC), organizational identification (OI), and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) in IT manufacturing firms. We further examine whether generational cohort membership moderates the relationship between ESG and OCB, comparing the MZ generation (Millennials, born 1981 to 1996; Generation Z, born 1997 to 2012) with the older generation. Using survey data from 374 employees across four Korean IT manufacturers and structural equation modeling, we find that S and G positively predict OC; E negatively predicts OC. G positively predicts OI, whereas E negatively predicts OI, and S is not significant. Both OC and OI positively predict OCB and mediate ESG→OCB links (OC mediates E, S, G; OI mediates E and G). Multi-group analysis shows a stronger G→OCB path for the MZ cohort than for the older cohort. In summary, the empirical analysis results of this study are expected to be helpful to executives and managers of IT manufacturing companies that are conducting or promoting ESG activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Soo-Cheol Jeong & Dong-Seop Chung, 2025. "Exploring the Influence of ESG Activities on Organizational Citizenship Behavior in IT Manufacturing Companies: Mediating Effects of Organizational Commitment and Identification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-21, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8441-:d:1753860
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Salvatore Zappalà & Ferdinando Toscano & Simone Alfio Licciardello, 2019. "Towards Sustainable Organizations: Supervisor Support, Commitment to Change and the Mediating Role of Organizational Identification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-12, February.
    2. Hang-yue Ngo & Raymond Loi & Sharon Foley & Xiaoming Zheng & Lingqing Zhang, 2013. "Perceptions of organizational context and job attitudes: The mediating effect of organizational identification," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 149-168, March.
    3. David Effelsberg & Marc Solga & Jochen Gurt, 2014. "Transformational Leadership and Follower’s Unethical Behavior for the Benefit of the Company: A Two-Study Investigation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 120(1), pages 81-93, March.
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