Back Issues 11-20

SALUTE TO THE BLACK SHEEP: THE LEGITIMACY OF WORKPLACE BULLYING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ORGANIZATIONAL COHESIVE AFFINITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS

Hsiang-Ying Cheng and Kai-Ping Huang 

Department of Business Administration, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan, R.O.C.

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Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of black sheep effect on organizational or group performance by exploring the role of group cohesiveness and group development. Black sheep effect occurs when members of the organization facing high task related pressure or strong competition and the pressure or tension cannot be released. Therefore, someone (black sheep) in the organization will be isolated, bullied, or disregard by others to adjust the pressure or aspire the sense of belonging. In this situation, those bullies and bystanders become “butchers” and “(white) sheep” without conscious. Consequently, there is forming a unusual phenomenon that a group of good people bully a good person. Prior research has paid lots of attention on the reason why black sheep effect and bully’s behavior occur within organization. However, little is known on black sheep’s contribution to the organization or group. This study takes a neutral posture to explore the relationship between workplace bullying and black sheep effect in organization, and illustrate if the influence of this phenomenon has benefit result in the view of whole organization. This study proposed that black sheep effect is positively related to group cohesiveness, and group cohesiveness is positively related to group development. In contrast with prior research focusing on psychological point of view, this study enables management to extend the focus from individual to organization standpoint and develop specific strategy toward a positive attitude on black sheep effect.

Keywords: black sheep effect, group cohesiveness, group development, social identity theory, self-categorization theory, task commitment, workplace bullying

Attachments:

1002 Final.pdf

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