Interdepartmental conflict, work identity and organisational trust in temporary employment service organisations

Orientation: Work identity (WI) is developed and influenced by various factors in the workplace, which could include interdepartmental conflict (IC) and organisational trust (OT). Research purpose: To explore the effect that IC has on WI and the mediating role OT plays in the relationship between IC and WI within a temporary service organisation. Motivation for the study: There is a lack of empirical research examining the relationships that interdepartmental conflict has with work identity and organisational trust. Research approach/design and method: A quantitative, cross-sectional field survey was used to gather data. Applying a stratified sampling technique, the population of N = 952 yielded a response rate of 31.6%, amounting to n = 302. SmartPLS software was used to analyse the data and conceptual model using the partial least squares (PLS) technique. Main findings: The results revealed a weak relationship between interdepartmental conflict and WI, as well as a significant negative relationship between IC and OT. The results also showed a positive relationship between OT and WI. The mediation analysis results indicated that OT significantly and positively mediates the relationship between IC and WI. Practical/managerial implications: Leadership in organisations needs to be aware of the valuable impact of WI on organisational outcomes, and that it is negatively affected by IC and positively influenced by OT. Contribution/value-add: No previous WI studies could be found that tested the mediating role of OT in the relationship between IC and WI. Although studies have looked at WI, IC and OT in various settings and along with other variables, none have considered the interrelationship among these three variables.