A Research on the Moderating Role of Organizational Commitment on the Effect of Empowerment on Whistleblowing

Abstract

In today?s knowledge society, organizations that are aware of the importance of human resources and are able to manage it effectively are more likely to have competitive advantage against their opponents. Empowerment is defined as ?the development of feeling of self-efficacy in employees through determining the factors that cause the feeling of weakness and eliminating that feeling by organizational practices intended to strengthen the feeling of efficacy (Conger and Kanungo, 1988: 471). Besides, the employees are able to undertake responsibility and authorization related to the specific duties and feel the freedom to make their own decisions regarding the job. Hence, an employee with high organization commitment will have a happier and more peaceful work environment and work for the organization?s interests, and therefore s/he will be proud of being a member of that organization (Do?an and Demiral, 2009: 47). Likewise, employees with high organization commitment are expected not to avoid conveying unethical actions to their superiors in order to protect organizational interests. In this respect, the purpose of this study is to determine whether empowerment and organizational commitment has an effect on employees? whistleblowing behavior. The literature review has revealed that there is plenty of research on empowerment and organizational commitment. However, no studies that elaborate on the moderating effect of organizational commitment on the relationship between empowerment and whistleblowing have been found in the literature. Consequently, this study is expected to contribute to relevant literature. The data of the study were obtained from a firm that operates in the food sector and is located in Nev?ehir Organized Industrial Site. The firm currently employs 340 people. The findings of the study revealed that empowerment has a positive and meaningful effect on whistleblowing behavior (R= 0,403, p= 0,000). In addition, it was also found out that organizational commitment has a moderating role on the relationship between empowerment and whistleblowing.