When and Why People Engage in Different Forms of Proactive Behavior: Interactive Effects of Self-construals and Work Characteristics

Wu, Chia-Huei; Parker, Sharon K.; Wu, Long-Zeng; Lee, Cynthia

Abstract

When and why do people engage in different forms of proactive behavior at work? We propose that as a result of a process of trait activation, employees with different types of self-construal engage in distinct forms of proactive behavior if they work in environments consistent with their self-construals. In an experimental Study 1 (n = 61), we examined the effect of self-construals on proactivity and found that people primed with interdependent self-construals engaged in more work unit–oriented proactive behavior when job interdependence was also manipulated. Priming independent self-construals did not enhance career-oriented proactive behavior, even when we manipulated job autonomy. In a field Study 2 (n = 205), we found that employees with interdependent self-construals working in jobs with high interdependence reported higher work unit commitment and higher work unit–oriented proactive behavior compared to employees in low interdependent jobs. Employees with independent self-construals working in jobs with high autonomy also exhibited stronger career commitment and more career-oriented proactive behavior than did those in jobs with low autonomy. This research offers a theoretical framework to explain how dispositional and situational factors interactively shape people’s engagement in different forms of proactive behavior.

Citation

Wu, C., Parker, S. K., Wu, L., & Lee, C. (2018). When and Why People Engage in Different Forms of Proactive Behavior: Interactive Effects of Self-construals and Work Characteristics. Academy of Management Journal, 61(1), 293-323. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2013.1064

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 23, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Mar 30, 2017
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jul 13, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 13, 2018
• Journal: Academy of Management Journal
• Print ISSN: 0001-4273
• Electronic ISSN: 1948-0989
• Publisher: Academy of Management
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 293-323
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2013.1064
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1354272
• Related Public URLs: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/71991/