The effect of employee goal orientation on change-supportive behavior: a moderated mediation approach

Abstract

Purpose

Based on goal orientation theory, this study aims to examine how and when employees' performance goal orientations (PGOs) affect their change-supportive behavior in entrepreneurial firms undergoing change.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-wave time-lagged research design was applied to collect data from companies undergoing change in China.

Findings

The results showed that employees' performance-proving goal orientation (PPGO) was positively related to change-supportive behavior, and employees' performance-avoiding goal orientation (PAGO) was negatively related to change-supportive behavior. Openness to change played a mediating role in these mechanisms, and employees' learning goal orientation (LGO) played a moderating role.

Originality/value

By solving the mechanism of the relationship between PGOs and change-supportive behavior that has not been explored before, this study answers the question of how and when different PGOs affect support behavior.

Citation

Liu, M., Bai, M., Liu, B. and Li, Y. (2023), "The effect of employee goal orientation on change-supportive behavior: a moderated mediation approach", Journal of Organizational Change Management, Vol. 36 No. 6, pp. 1010-1026. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-06-2023-0196