“Who can I blame and what can I do?”: making sense of psychological contract evaluations between Belgian and Chinese employees

Jiahong Du () and Tim Vantilborgh
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Jiahong Du: Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Tim Vantilborgh: Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Frontiers of Business Research in China, 2021, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-22

Abstract: Abstract This study explores cultural differences in the sensemaking process of employees following psychological contract evaluations. Data from 20 Belgian and 21 Chinese employees were collected using qualitative methods. An analysis of 94 critical incidents relayed by the employees reveals the attributional, emotional, and behavioral reactions that are triggered by psychological contract under-, exact-, and over-fulfillment. Our findings suggest that supervisors were seen as directly responsible for most of the employees’ psychological contract evaluations. Emotional responses are more complex in the process of attributing responsibility. Behavioral actions are subsequently used to deal with three types of psychological contract evaluations. A number of subtle differences are found between the Belgian and Chinese employees. The results highlight the unfolding and dynamic nature of the psychological contract in cultural comparisons.

Keywords: Psychological contract; Sensemaking process; Psychological contract breach; Psychological contract fulfillment; Critical incident technique; Cross-cultural differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1186/s11782-021-00105-w

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