The Effect of Performance Expectations and Relationship Expectations on Information Contribution: Focusing on China’s Small and Medium Enterprises

Abstract

From the perspective of expectancy theory, this study explores the factors that affect the intention toward and behavior of information contribution among the employees of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China. A new information contribution model is constructed, which yields two important variables—performance expectation and relationship expectation—and includes the mediating role of work engagement.

Data are collected from SMEs in China, with 531 employee samples. Structural equation modeling is used to test their predictive powers on the behaviors of information contribution. The findings confirm that performance expectation affects information contribution intention, work engagement, and information contribution behavior. The role of relationship expectation in the research model is especially examined owing to the unique characteristics of Chinese relational culture.

The results confirm the hypothesis. Relationship expectation affects an individual’s work engagement, information contribution intention, and information contribution behavior. Moreover, performance and relationship expectations indirectly influence information contribution behavior via information contribution intention and work engagement.

These findings lend an important insight into evolving constructs (i.e., information contribution intention and work engagement) and how organizations can enable employee performance and relationships through work engagement.