This study mainly investigates how intra-governmental competitions affect the unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB here after) of bureaucrats in Korea. In cases of conflicts of interest between organizations, each organization tends to show ego...
This study mainly investigates how intra-governmental competitions affect the unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB here after) of bureaucrats in Korea. In cases of conflicts of interest between organizations, each organization tends to show egoistic behaviors, such as UPB. UPB refers to actions that may violate core societal values or one's ethical standards but are intended to promote the effective functioning of the organization. To reflect diverse dimensions of competition, this study included competition between ministries, competition for individual performance within ministries, and trait competitiveness as a personality trait.
Survey experiment was conducted to verify hypotheses in this study. Specifically, a total of four scenarios were constructed using 2X2 factional design to vary levels of inter-organizational competition (cooperation, competition) and intra-organizational competition (cooperation, competition). One of scenarios were randomly distributed to respondent. After familiarizing themselves with the scenario, they were asked to respond to intentions to engage in UPB, such as hiding unfavorable information from competitors, or exaggerating organizational capacity.
Main results are found as follows. First of all, it is shown that competition between ministries has a positive impact on UPB as Hypothesis 1 predicted through discussions on psychological processes such as organizational identification, in-group favoritism, etc.
Hypothesis 2 is about how competition among individual members within the ministry affects UPB both directly and indirectly. Positive social exchange relationships between employees and organizations will be formed through the rewards provided by organizations for individual performance and efforts, and employees are willing to behave unethically for their own organizations. In another way, when there is competition between individuals within a department, people are shown to take strategies such as UPB to show that they contribute to the organization for their own benefit. Results show that there exists a relationship between individual competition and UPB with very small effects.
Hypothesis 3 and 4 is established to test moderating effects of two types of trait personality(interpersonal competitiveness and Self enhancement competitiveness). Individuals with high interpersonal competitiveness are likely to have low ethical standard and they want to win every competitive situation. The results show that the higher the level of interpersonal competitiveness, the more confidential the information that is unfavorable to their organizations where both competitions between organizations and individuals exists. Meanwhile, personal development competitiveness has no impact on UPB. People with higher personal development competitiveness value common goods and public interest and they avoid unethical behaviors.
To sum, different types of intra-governmental competitions is importantly guide bureaucrat’s behavior. Also, it can be said that trait competitiveness, especially interpersonal competitiveness, an important motivation for bureaucrats in Korea. This study has academic significance by discussing the subject of competition that has been rarely addressed in the public administration area.