Mapping the Landscape of Research on Organizational Citizenship Behaviour: Bibliometric and Content Analyses

Abstract

Organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) is essential for organizational sustainability. Despite the numerous studies in this domain, there is a lack of comprehensive and objective reviews of the extant literature, constraining both theoretical understanding and practical application. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to provide an extensive and rigorous review of OCB, analyse the thematic progression of research and identify future avenues. The study uses the SPAR-4-SLR framework, which has enhanced the credibility of the present research. This study employs both bibliometric and content analyses. While bibliometric analysis offers quantitative insights, content analysis provides qualitative insights into the thematic content of the literature. The co-citation analysis revealed five significant themes, namely ‘Organizational Identification and OCB’, ‘Social Exchange Theory (SET) and OCB’, ‘Dimensionality and OCB’, ‘Workplace Deviant Behaviours and OCB’ and ‘Leadership and OCB’. Content analysis was employed to examine and analyse the most relevant papers under each cluster. The results provide a thematic understanding of the progression and advancement of OCB research throughout the years. This nuanced exploration not only synthesizes key insights from past studies but also highlights potential pathways for future research, contributing to a deeper understanding of the dynamic and multifaceted nature of OCB. With its practical and theoretical implications, the article demonstrates the significance of OCB and offers several promising insights.