Reject bias: A dialectical perspective on the relationship between bottom-line mentality and unethical pro-organizational behaviour

Abstract

There is a “positive–negative” debate on the development of the bottom-line mentality (BLM) concept. Previous research showed a relationship between BLM and unethical pro-organizational behaviour (UPB) and revealed that BLM positively affected UPB. This research aims to challenge this partial view and calls for a more balanced and comprehensive view of the BLM concept by revealing the potential negative influencing mechanism between BLM and UPB. Drawing from social information processing theory, we construct a moderated-mediation model to test the mediating mechanism through different individual-level processes in the Chinese context. Findings indicate that team BLM positively affects member UPB via state performance-prove goal orientation and perceived insider status and negatively affects member UPB via state performance-avoid goal orientation. These results confirm the overall positive relationship between team BLM and member UPB but also document the possible inhibitory mechanism of BLM on UPB. This study is the first to acknowledge the potential negative relationship between BLM and UPB, which deserves attention. This research also presents a complete picture of the BLM literature. The findings of this work have significant implications in enabling organizations to appropriately handle BLM and its relationship with UPB dynamically.