Title

Organization structure and fairness perceptions: The moderating effects of organizational level

Authors

Authors

M. Schminke; R. Cropanzano;D. E. Rupp

Abbreviated Journal Title

Organ. Behav. Hum. Decis. Process.

Keywords

CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIOR; PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS; DECISION-MAKING; JOB-PERFORMANCE; SOCIAL-EXCHANGE; UNITED-STATES; JUSTICE; CONSISTENCY; ATTITUDES; SUPPORT; Psychology, Applied; Management; Psychology, Social

Abstract

This research explores the relationship between organizational structure and fairness perceptions. We hypothesized that several dimensions of organizational structure (centralization, formalization, size, and vertical complexity) would influence perceptions of distributive, procedural, and interactional fairness. Further, drawing on social exchange theory, we predict that organizational level will moderate the relationships between structure and fairness perceptions. In particular, we predicted that the effects of structure on justice perceptions would be stronger for individuals at lower organizational levels and weaker for those at higher levels. Results from a sample of 212 participants from 45 departments across 35 work organizations generally supported our predictions. Organizational structure-in particular centralization and formalization-exerted main effects on perceptions of distributive, procedural, and interactional justice. Organizational level was negatively related to both distributive and procedural justice. Finally, as hypothesized, organizational level moderated several of the relationships between structural dimensions and the three types of justice. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Journal Title

Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

Volume

89

Issue/Number

1

Publication Date

1-1-2002

Document Type

Review

Language

English

First Page

881

Last Page

905

WOS Identifier

WOS:000178237700005

ISSN

0749-5978

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