The effect of emotional quotient on organizational citizenship behavior in some Iranian hospitals

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of emotional quotient (EQ) on the organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) of some Iranian hospital staff in 2015. For this purpose, all hospital staff in Zahedan city were studied as the statistical population.

Design/methodology/approach

A randomized sampling method was used, and according to the Morgan Table, the statistical population was calculated as 346. This was a descriptive survey with a correlational and causative nature. Two questionnaires, namely, Bradbury and Graves’ Emotional Quotient and Podsakoff’s Organizational Citizenship Behavior, were used to collect the required information; they were distributed among the respondents after testing their validity and reliability. The people in the studied population were classified into classes that were homogeneous in terms of their properties.

Findings

The results of testing the hypotheses indicate that all the dimensions of EQ have a direct and significant effect on the emergence of OCB among the hospital staff in Zahedan. Finally, the results indicate the effect of EQ on OCB of the hospital staff.

Practical implications

Hospitals should consider emotional capabilities of the staff at the beginning of the employment period, and increase their sociability by inducting an atmosphere of organizational culture based on cooperation and empathy. It is suggested that a guideline of emotional eligibility and OCB be codified, which can influence job promotion and the promotion system. On specific occasions, hospital managers can honor the staff who have made positive and effective relationships in their career, and have achieved the satisfaction of their patients and colleagues by demonstrating extra-role behaviors. Thus, employees will be encouraged to continue this behavior and also provide a model to the staff. Through pre-service or in-service training classes and job seminars on the control of negative emotions and stresses while acquiring the skills of EQ, hospitals and other organizations can create OCB in the staff. As a result, visitor satisfaction would be gained, leading to better performance of hospitals.

Originality/value

It is suggested that a guideline of emotional eligibility and organizational citizenship behavior has to be codified which can affect the job promotion and promotion system. In specific occasions, the hospital managers can honor and pay tribute to the people who have made positive and effective relationships in their career, and have achieved the satisfaction of their patients and colleagues by showing extra-role behaviors.

Citation

Rafiei, M. (2017), "The effect of emotional quotient on organizational citizenship behavior in some Iranian hospitals", Kybernetes, Vol. 46 No. 7, pp. 1189-1203. https://doi.org/10.1108/K-01-2017-0001