The Professional Responsibilities of ERP Experts : A New Form of Organizational Citizenship Behaviour

In this study, we examine how ERP experts engage in organizational citizenship behaviours (OCB) that contribute towards work performance in the context of a manufacturing firm in China. Our interpretive case study reveals instances of OCB that correspond to salient characteristics of the Chinese culture. Key and new forms among these are: harmonious work relations and the willingness to help others plus workarounds, problem solving, job crafting, building role models and leadership. A primary driver of these instances of OCB is a strong sense of responsibility. This is implicitly associated in a morally obligatory fashion with specific job positions and leads employees at all levels to engage voluntarily in overtime work, undertaking whatever tasks are necessary, irrespective of whether these are part of their formal job descriptions. We also observe OCB’s potential for improving performance in both functional and social dimensions, as well as its impact on organizational agility.