Using the social exchange theory to explore the employee-organization relationship in the hospitality industry

Abstract

Purpose

This research developed a conceptual model for the hospitality industry based on the employee-organization relationship using the social exchange theory as the theoretical framework. This study aims to consider perceived organizational support as the psychological empowerment antecedent, while work engagement and service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior were considered as its outcome. This study also tested psychological empowerment as a mediator of these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered from a sample of frontline hotel employees and analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling. A total of 242 completed and validated questionnaires were used for the analysis.

Findings

Perceived organizational support had a significant relationship with psychological empowerment (through meaning, competence, self-determination and impact), which also had a significant relationship with work engagement (through meaning and impact) and service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (through meaning, self-determination and impact). Psychological empowerment partially mediated the relationship between perceived organizational support with work engagement and service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior.

Originality/value

Although psychological empowerment is receiving further empirical attention in the hospitality field, little is known about its antecedents and outcomes. Hence, this research extends previous studies using the social exchange theory to fill these literature gaps and create a conceptual model for the hospitality industry based on the employee-organization relationship.

Citation

Meira, J.V.d.S. and Hancer, M. (2021), "Using the social exchange theory to explore the employee-organization relationship in the hospitality industry", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 33 No. 2, pp. 670-692. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-06-2020-0538