Organizational citizenship behavior, leader–member exchange, and organizational justice in Albanian higher education institution

Abstract

Organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) are among the most desired behaviors by employers. Perceived fairness, measured through organizational justice (OJ), and the quality of the relationship that an employee has with their immediate supervisor, measured by leader-member exchange (LMX), have been identified among the best predictors of OCB. A model based on social exchange theory was used to investigate the impact of OJ and LMX on OCB, on the one hand, and the impact of OJ on LMX, on the other. The sample of the study consists of 132 Albanian academics working full-time in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Albania. Economic development level of the country, current state of the HEIs in Albania, and the Albanian society’s cultural profile, as indicated by the Hofstede model of national culture, were taken into consideration in the development of the model and hypotheses. Scales developed by Podsakoff et al. (1990) for OCB, Scandura and Graen (1984) for LMX, and Colquitt (2001) for OJ were utilized for the operationalization of each construct. Responses were obtained using a questionnaire that was sent by e-mail. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed distributive justice as an antecedent of both OCB and LMX, and informational justice as an antecedent only to LMX. Interpretation of results and implications for the management of the HEIs in Albania are presented.