Skip to main content
Log in

The role of perceptions of political tactics in predicting turnover from behavioral intentions

  • Full Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Business and Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The role of behavioral intentions in predicting turnover has received considerable attention in recent years. The purpose of the present study was to examine the potential moderating impact of a person's perceptions of political tactics (PPT) on the relationship between turnover intentions and voluntary turnover. The research sample consisted of 404 white-collar employees working for a textile manufacturing firm. Logistic regression indicated support for the hypothesized moderator effect. Results suggested that turnover intentions were less predictive of turnover for individuals who perceived political tactics to be useful in attaining organizational success as compared to those who perceived them not to be useful. Future research suggestions are provided.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnold, H.J., Feldman, D.J. (1982). A multivariate analysis of the determinants of job turnover.Journal of Applied Psychology, 67, 350–360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bass, B.M. (1968). How to succeed in business according to business students and managers.Journal of Applied Psychology, 52, 254–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bass, B.M., Franke, R.H. (1972). Societal influences on student perceptions of how to succeed in organizations: A cross national analysis.Journal of Applied Psychology, 56, 312–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheung, P., Smith, H.L. (1981). Logistic regression models with continuous independent variables.American Sociological Review, 46, 946–949.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, D., & Petersen, J.C. (1982). Patterns of political behavior in organizations.Academy of Management Review, 7, 403–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferris, G.R., Russ, G.S., & Fandt, P.M. (in press). Politics in organizations. In R. Giacalone & P. Rosenfeld (Eds.),Impression Management in the Organization. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

  • Fishbein, M. (1980). A theory of reasoned action: Some applications and implications. In H. Howe & M. Page (Eds.),Nebraska symposium on motivation, 27, 65–116. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gandz, J., & Murray, V.V. (1980). The experience of workplace politics.Academy of Management Journal, 23, 237–251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, R.W., Bateman, T.S., Wayne, S.J., & Head, T.C. (1987). Objective and social factors as determinants of task perceptions and responses: An integrated perspective and empirical investigation.Academy of Management Journal, 30, 501–523.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulin, C.L., Roznowski, M., & Hachiya, D. (1985). Alternative opportunities and withdrawal decisions: Empirical and theoretical discrepancies and an integration.Psychological Bulletin, 97, 233–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemery, E.R., Dunlap, W.P., & Griffeth, R.W. (1988). Correction for variance restriction in point-biserial correlations.Journal of Applied Psychology, 73, 688–691.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madison, D.L., Allen, R.W., Porter, L.W., Renwick, P.A., & Mayes, B.T. (1980). Organizational politics: An exploration of managers' perceptions.Human Relations, 33, 79–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • March, J.G., & Simon, H.A. (1958).Organizations. New York: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayes, B.T., & Allen, R.W. (1977). Toward a definition of organizational politics.Academy of Management Review, 2, 672–678.

    Google Scholar 

  • McEvoy, G.M., & Cascio, W.F. (1985). Strategies for reducing employee turnover: A meta-analysis.Journal of Applied Psychology, 70, 342–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mobley, W.H. (1982).Employee turnover: Causes, consequences, and control. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mowday, R.T., Koberg, C.S., & McArthur, A.W. (1984). The psychology of the withdrawal process: A cross-validational test of Mobley's intermediate linkages model of turnover in two samples.Academy of Management Journal, 27, 79–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mowday, R.T., Porter, L.W., & Steers, R.M. (1982).Employee-organizational linkages. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muchinsky, P.M., & Morrow, P.C. (1980). A multidisciplinary model of voluntary employee turnover.Journal of Vocational Behavior, 17, 263–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, L.W., Allen, R.W., & Angle, H.L. (1983). The politics of upward influence in organizations. In R.W. Allen & L.W. Porter (Eds.),Organizational influence processes, pp. 408–422. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Presholdt, P.H., Lane, I.M., & Matthews, R.C. (1987). Nurse turnover as reasoned action: Development of a process model.Journal of Applied Psychology, 27, 221–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosse, J.G., & Hulin, C.L. (1985). Adaptation to work: An analysis of employee health, withdrawal, and change.Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 36, 324–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salancik, G.R., & Pfeffer, J. (1977). Who gets power and how they hold on to it: A strategic-contingency model of power.Organizational Dynamics, 5(3), 3–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steel, R., & Ovalle, N. (1984). A review and meta-analysis of research on the relationship between behavioral intentions and employee turnover.Journal of Applied Psychology, 69, 673–686.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, E.F., & Hollenbeck, J.R. (in press). Clarifying some controversial issues surrounding statistical procedures for detecting moderator variables: Empirical evidence and related matters.Journal of Applied Psychology.

  • Thompson, D.R., & Terpening, W.D. (1983). Job type variations and antecedents to intention to leave: A content approach to turnover.Human Relations, 36, 655–681.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wesolowski, M.A., Mossholder, K.W., Feild, H.S. et al. The role of perceptions of political tactics in predicting turnover from behavioral intentions. J Bus Psychol 3, 413–422 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01020709

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01020709

Keywords

Navigation