Relationship quality and relationship context as antecedents of person- and task-focused interpersonal citizenship behavior

A model hypothesizing relationship quality and relationship context as antecedents of two complementary forms of interpersonal citizenship behavior (ICB) was tested. Measures with coworkers as the frame of reference were used to collect data from 273 individuals working in 2 service-oriented organizations. As hypothesized, variables reflecting relationship quality were associated with person-focused ICB, as mediated by empathic concern. Also as hypothesized, a relationship context variable, network centrality, exhibited a direct relationship with task-focused ICB. Unexpectedly, network centrality was directly associated with person-focused ICB. and empathic concern was associated with task-focused ICB. The results are discussed, and implications for research and practice are offered.     

Newcomer socialization: The role of supervisors, coworkers, friends and family members

The present study examined referents for sensemaking and the relationships between choice of referent and socialization outcomes. Newly hired employees of a state department of mental health were surveyed at two time periods approximately six months apart. Results indicated that newcomer use of friends and family as referents for sensemaking predicted socialization outcomes at Time 1, whereas use of supervisors and coworkers as referents for sensemaking predicted socialization outcomes at Time 2. The implications of these results for practice are discussed.The authors would like to thank Meryl Reis Louis for her assistance in developing the measures used in this study. We also acknowledge the helpful comments of Kevin Mossholder, Craig Russell and Adrienne Collela on previous drafts of this paper.