Consequences of unethical pro-organisational behaviour a structured literature review

Abstract

Researchers have shown a growing interest in unethical pro-organisational behaviour, but most studies have focused on its causes rather than its effects. This study aims to summarise existing research on the consequences of unethical pro-organisational behaviour at three levels: individual, interpersonal, and organisational. It identifies the consequences, the theories that explain these outcomes, and their impact at each level. A structured literature review approach was adopted, and an inductive content analysis was conducted to identify patterns and themes related to the consequences of unethical pro-organisational behaviour across multidisciplinary fields. The findings show that unethical behaviour that benefits an organisation can lead to varied and mixed results at different levels, highlighting the complex nature of the behaviour. The results emphasise people’s roles in the workplace, both as active participants and observers. They also reveal the connections, interactions, and influences among coworkers, regardless of their position in the organisation. The findings reveal a wide range of key theoretical underpinnings of the consequences and the effects of the behaviour for individuals, colleagues, the organisation, and external stakeholders. The review contributes by providing a comprehensive overview of the consequences of unethical pro-organisational behaviour, the impact of the behaviour, and theories to explain these outcomes. Additionally, the review suggests future research directions to enhance understanding of this topic.