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How does the needs-supplies fit of developmental job experience affect employees’ proactive behavior?

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Abstract

Based on person-organization fit and social exchange theory, this study investigates the effect of the needs-supplies fit of developmental job experience (DJE) on proactive behavior and explores the mediating role of affective organizational commitment (AOC). A lagged survey design in two-wave was used, and hypotheses were tested using polynomial regression and response surface analysis. The results show that different fit combinations between individuals’ needs for DJE and organizations’ supplies affect proactive behavior. Employees engaged in more proactive behavior when high-high fit (vs. low-low fit) and undersupply (vs. oversupply) were present. Furthermore, the effect of the needs-supplies fit of DJE on the different foci of proactive behavior is different. As hypothesized, the relationship between the needs-supplies fit of DJE and proactive behavior is mediated by AOC. The results of this study can deepen researchers’ understanding of the role of DJE in employees’ organizational, interpersonal, and personal proactive behavior and provide support for the effective mechanisms of DJE on proactive behavior based on social exchange theory and person-organization fit theory.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Research Project of Philosophy and Social Science in Guangdong, China (GD22CXL01) and the Educational Science Planning Project (Higher Education Special Project) in Guangdong Province, China (2022GXJK176).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Philosophy and Social Science Laboratory of Reading and Development in Children and Adolescents, Ministry of Education, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China

    Qishan Chen

  2. School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China

    Qishan Chen & Honglan Fan

  3. Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Miaosi Li

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All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. QC and ML contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors.

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Chen, Q., Li, M. & Fan, H. How does the needs-supplies fit of developmental job experience affect employees’ proactive behavior?. Asia Pac J Manag (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-023-09894-5

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