Cohesiveness and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: A Multilevel Analysis Using Work Groups and Individuals

Abstract

Using a theory-based multilevel framework, we examined the potential relationships of two organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) dimensions with individual- and group-level measures. The individual-level measures used were employee job satisfaction and organizational commitment; the group-level measure used was work group cohesiveness. The sample for the study was drawn from eight service sector organizations. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses revealed that employees in more cohesive work groups displayed greater amounts of courtesy than would have been predicted based only on their job satisfaction or organizational commitment. Further, the relationship between employee job satisfaction and the amount of courtesy displayed was stronger in the more cohesive groups. Such results were not obtained when conscientiousness was the focal OCB. Implications of our results, as well as use of HLM in multilevel investigations, are discussed.