Organizational identification strategy and unethical pro-organizational behavior
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Hany Azza Umama, Sri Murni Setyawati 
, Siti Zulaikha Wulandari
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Although organizational identification (OI) is widely recognized for its benefits, recent studies have highlighted its potential drawbacks (Naseer et al., 2020). This research explores the dark side of OI, specifically its influence on unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB), by examining the mediating role of moral justification (MJ). Drawing upon an integrated framework of social identity theory, the theory of planned behavior, and the theory of situational action, we surveyed 353 employees from micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Indonesia. Using a cross-sectional design and PLS analysis, the findings reveal that OI functions as a double-edged sword — it can both promote and inhibit UPB depending on MJ. Strengthening employees’ moral responsibility can reduce MJ, thereby minimizing UPB. Importantly, OI does not inherently lead to UPB; rather, MJ acts as a key mechanism that shapes its ethical consequences. This study extends the model proposed by Umphress and Bingham (2011) by emphasizing the role of individual moral foundations and self-control, offering valuable insights for organizations seeking to balance OI while mitigating ethical risks.
Keywords: Moral Justification, Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior, Organizational Identification
Authors’ individual contribution: Conceptualization — H.A.U.; Methodology — H.A.U.; Formal Analysis — H.A.U.; Investigation — H.A.U.; Data Curation — H.A.U.; Writing — H.A.U.; Visualization — H.A.U.; Supervision — S.M.S. and S.Z.W.; Project Administration — H.A.U.
Declaration of conflicting interests: The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
JEL Classification: D22, D23, M54, O15
Received: 21.12.2024
Revised: 07.04.2025; 10.05.2025; 15.10.2025
Accepted: 06.11.2025
Published online: 10.11.2025
How to cite this paper: Umama, H. A., Setyawati, S. M., & Wulandari, S. Z. (2025). Organizational identification strategy and unethical pro-organizational behavior. Corporate and Business Strategy Review, 6(4), 143–152. https://doi.org/10.22495/cbsrv6i4art13
