Prosocial Behaviour and Employment commitment in the Public Sector Organisations: A Conceptual Study of Bayelsa State government Agencies

Abstract

Prosocial behaviour, which entails optional behaviours that are designed to benefit others, has continued to be identified as a central behavioural mechanism that boosts the attitude of the workers and the organizational performance. This paper conceptualises the concept of prosocial behaviour in defining employment commitment in the context of the public sector organisations and specifically in the context of Bayelsa State government agencies in Nigeria. Although prosociality has increasingly become the focus of scholarly attention, little conceptual analysis has been done as to its distinct contribution to subnational public sector in developing economies. Based on the Social Exchange Theory, Affective Events Theory and the Public Service Motivation Theory, the paper hypothesises that prosocial behaviour positively affects affective and normative commitment due to the mutually dependent reciprocal social evaluations, positive emotional experiences and a feeling of moral obligation to values of public service. The article constructs an overall theoretical framework and provides propositions to be verified subsequently in an empirical study. The research helps to bridge the gap in the literature on organizational behaviour and the administration of the state by placing prosocial behaviour as a strategic asset to enhance employee commitment and delivery of the services to the citizens. The policy implications on enhancing commitment in the public sector organizations in developing economies are discussed.