Helping managers stimulate employee voluntary, helpful behavior

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present: the concept of voluntary, helpful organizational behavior (V‐HOB); research results regarding how one subset of future business employees, accounting students, may be predisposed to such behavior; and practical training and development approaches aimed at establishing a work environment supportive of V‐HOB.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory research involves surveying accounting majors to capture perceptions of predisposition toward V‐HOB. Survey results measure elements of V‐HOB and several task performances. The authors synthesize relevant research, providing pragmatic suggestions for management training and development.

Findings

Data analysis was inconclusive regarding individuals' predisposition toward V‐HOB. This exploratory research suggests that academic success may not indicate V‐HOB predisposition. Training and development may be more effective than attempting to recruit individuals predisposed toward V‐HOB.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations to this exploratory research include a small sample size of a homogeneous group, as to major, class size, university attendance. Future research could focus on V‐HOB predisposition by gender, academic discipline, and country/culture. Broader aspects of task performance including participation and absenteeism could be studied. While more research is needed, these preliminary results may indicate that predisposition toward V‐HOB can be difficult to identify.

Practical implications

The authors provide managerial guidance regarding investment of effort into recruiting candidates having a predisposition toward V‐HOB, and for training toward nurturing an environment in which V‐HOB is more likely to thrive.

Originality/value

This paper defines and describes behaviors which support V‐HOB. A gap is bridged between academic study of such behaviors and pragmatic techniques for development of managers.

Citation

Bandura, R.P. and Lyons, P.R. (2012), "Helping managers stimulate employee voluntary, helpful behavior", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 44 No. 2, pp. 94-102. https://doi.org/10.1108/00197851211202939