The Effects of LMX and Perceived Fit on Employees' Negative Word-of-Mouth: The Role of Corporate Citizenship and Organization-Based Self-Esteem

The Effects of LMX and Perceived Fit on Employees' Negative Word-of-Mouth: The Role of Corporate Citizenship and Organization-Based Self-Esteem

Purpose - This study examines the relationships between leader-member exchange (LMX), perceived fit, organization-based self-esteem (OBSE), corporate citizenship, work engagement, and employees’ negative word-of-mouth (NWOM). In particular, it analyzes the effect of the interaction between LMX and corporate citizenship on OBSE, and the effect of the interaction between perceived fit and corporate citizenship on OBSE. Finally, this study analyzes moderated mediation by legal/ethical citizenship and philanthropic citizenship, and work engagement in the LMX-NWOM relationship and the perceived fit-NWOM relationship, respectively. Design/methodology - The research data were collected through a questionnaire from 293 employees working at 117 restaurant companies in Korea. Findings - The results were as follows. First, both LMX and perceived fit were negatively related to employees' NWOM. Second, both LMX and perceived fit were positively related to OBSE. Third, OBSE was negatively related to employees' NWOM. Fourth, legal/ethical citizenship and philanthropic citizenship citizenship were found to attenuate the positive (+) relationship between perceived fit and OBSE, respectively. Fifth, it was found that work engagement weakened the negative (-) relationship between OBSE and NWOM. Finally, OBSE was found to have a partial mediating effect moderated by corporate citizenship (legal/ethical citizenship and philanthropic citizenship) and work engagement in the relationship between perceived fit and NWOM. Originality/value - This study makes a theoretical contribution by expanding the mechanisms associated with LMX and NWOM by revealing the mediating effect of OBSE in their relationship. Additionally, this study makes a theoretical contribution in that it demonstrates the importance of enhancing legal and ethical citizenship and philanthropic citizenship by revealing the moderating effect of corporate citizenship in the relationship between perceived fit and OBSEE. Finally, it makes a theoretical contribution by suggesting that the interaction between work engagement and OBSE is important in reducing employees' NWOM by revealing the moderating effect of work engagement.

Purpose - This study examines the relationships between leader-member exchange (LMX), perceived fit, organization-based self-esteem (OBSE), corporate citizenship, work engagement, and employees’ negative word-of-mouth (NWOM). In particular, it analyzes the effect of the interaction between LMX and corporate citizenship on OBSE, and the effect of the interaction between perceived fit and corporate citizenship on OBSE. Finally, this study analyzes moderated mediation by legal/ethical citizenship and philanthropic citizenship, and work engagement in the LMX-NWOM relationship and the perceived fit-NWOM relationship, respectively. Design/methodology - The research data were collected through a questionnaire from 293 employees working at 117 restaurant companies in Korea. Findings - The results were as follows. First, both LMX and perceived fit were negatively related to employees' NWOM. Second, both LMX and perceived fit were positively related to OBSE. Third, OBSE was negatively related to employees' NWOM. Fourth, legal/ethical citizenship and philanthropic citizenship citizenship were found to attenuate the positive (+) relationship between perceived fit and OBSE, respectively. Fifth, it was found that work engagement weakened the negative (-) relationship between OBSE and NWOM. Finally, OBSE was found to have a partial mediating effect moderated by corporate citizenship (legal/ethical citizenship and philanthropic citizenship) and work engagement in the relationship between perceived fit and NWOM. Originality/value - This study makes a theoretical contribution by expanding the mechanisms associated with LMX and NWOM by revealing the mediating effect of OBSE in their relationship. Additionally, this study makes a theoretical contribution in that it demonstrates the importance of enhancing legal and ethical citizenship and philanthropic citizenship by revealing the moderating effect of corporate citizenship in the relationship between perceived fit and OBSEE. Finally, it makes a theoretical contribution by suggesting that the interaction between work engagement and OBSE is important in reducing employees' NWOM by revealing the moderating effect of work engagement.