Impact of Individual and Situational Factors on Employees' Unethical Pro‐Organizational Behavior: Based on an FsQCA Approach

TL;DR

This study explores how individual and situational factors together influence unethical behaviors in employees, using a new analytical approach to uncover multiple driving mechanisms.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel fsQCA approach to reveal multiple configurations and causal asymmetry in unethical pro-organizational behaviors.

Findings

No single factor is essential for UPB; five factors coexist in multiple configurations.

Three distinct driving mechanisms for UPB were identified.

Causal asymmetry exists within the driving mechanisms of UPB.

Abstract

Despite the exploration of the impact of individual and external situational factors on Unethical Pro‐Organizational Behaviors (UPB) and its boundaries to some extent, existing research has not sufficiently delved into the complementary relationships and the interactive effects among multiple factors, making it challenging to fully elucidate the complexity of UPB outcomes. Drawing upon prior research on UPB, this study employed the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method, integrating configuration theory and individual‐context interaction theory, to gather a total of 550 datasets from seven Chinese food enterprises and a professional research platform (Credamo). The findings revealed that no single factor was essential for UPB; instead, the five factors encompassing individual psychological and external situational aspects coexist in multiple configurations, resulting in three distinct driving mechanisms. Furthermore, there exists a causal asymmetry within the driving mechanisms of UPB. Based on these insights, it is imperative to adopt a differentiated management approach from a holistic perspective, considering the specific context, fostering an ethical and supportive organizational climate, being vigilant about the potential adverse impacts of transformational leadership, and guiding employees with a high inclination toward Machiavellianism.

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