Cultural and Hierarchical Differences in Organizational Citizenship Behavior: A Comparison among University Employees

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to examine cultural and hierarchical differences in the perception of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and job satisfaction among Iranian, Turkish, Nigerian and Palestinian employees based on a survey of 150 academic and non-academic employees in the Eastern Mediterranean University in North Cyprus. The results indicate that there are differences in perception of OCB in various cultures. Culture was categorized by using the country of participants. Hofstede’s research (1980, 1983, 1991, and 2009) provided scores of each county based on the five culture dimensions (Power Distance, Individualism, Masculinity, Uncertainty Avoidance and Long Term Orientation) for 53 countries. The survey was distributed via handouts among self selecting employees. Factor analysis, means, standard deviations, correlations, analyses of variance and t-tests were used to investigate a number of hypotheses. The analyses showed that Iranian, Turkish and Nigerian employees reported a higher level of personal support because their cultures score higher on collectivism and lower on masculinity; Turkish and Palestinian employees reported a higher and lower level of organizational support respectively as their cultures score high on collectivism and uncertainly avoidance. Also Iranian, Turkish, Nigerian and Palestinian employees based on a high level score of power distance culture reported difference in the level of conscientious initiative in this organization. In addition, the results indicate that perceptions of OCB dimensions positively vary according to job satisfaction. Also, job satisfaction varies according to national culture as there were significant differences between Iranian-Turks as compared to Iranian-Nigerians, Iranian-Palestinians, Turksiv Palestinians, Turks-Nigerians and Nigerians-Palestinians employees’ job satisfaction. Finally, the results report that perceptions of OCB are a function of job/hierarchical level. Academic and non-academic employees have different perceptions in the dimensions of personal support and organizational support. Also, hierarchical level is negatively associated with all three dimensions of OCB. Keywords: Cross Culture, Cultural Values, Job/Hierarchical Level, Job Satisfaction, Organizational Citizenship Behavior. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………