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A dark side of political skill? Awareness and life satisfaction in a Latin American Business

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 July 2016

Mario Hayek ,
Brandon Randolph-Seng ,
Wallace Alex Williams  and
Kendra Ingram
Mario Hayek
Affiliation:
College of Business, Department of Management, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, TX, USA
Brandon Randolph-Seng*
Affiliation:
College of Business, Department of Management, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, TX, USA
Wallace Alex Williams
Affiliation:
College of Business, Department of Management, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, TX, USA
Kendra Ingram
Affiliation:
College of Business, Department of Management, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, TX, USA
*
Corresponding author: Brandon.randolph-seng@tamuc.edu
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Abstract

Research has typically explained the positive intrapsychic influence of political skill using Conservation of Resources (COR) theory. However, research explaining the possible negative intrapsychic consequences of high levels of political skill is lacking. Therefore, we introduce Cognitive Activation Theory (CAT) to the political skill literature to explain possible negative outcomes of political skill. In testing this theory, we used two hierarchical moderated multiple regressions to examine the relationship between affective and continuance commitment, life satisfaction, and political skill in a large, privately owned, financial services firm in Ecuador. Aligned with prior research, affective commitment positively affected life satisfaction; however, contrary to our hypothesis, continuance commitment also positively affected life satisfaction. Furthermore, consistent with both Conservation of Resources and Cognitive Activation Theory, results indicated that political skill strengthened the relationship between affective commitment and life satisfaction. However, contrary to Cognitive Activation Theory, political skill did not significantly weaken the relationship between continuance commitment and life satisfaction.

Keywords

political skillaffective commitmentcontinuance commitmentlife satisfactioncognitive activation theory
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , May 2017 , pp. 405 - 422
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2016 

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