The Effect of Political Skill on Work Role Performance and Intention to Leave: A Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

Although political skill has received extensive and growing attention over the past decade, to date most research has focused on its direct relationship with individual outcomes. Only recently, a few researchers have begun to investigate the intermediate linkages between political skill and its outcomes. Based on social support and resources conservation theories, the current study explores the mediating role of perceived organizational support (POS) in the relationships between political skill and two relevant outcomes: work role performance (data provide by two different sources) and intention to leave. Moreover, it examines the moderating role of political skill in the relationships POS-work role performance and POS-intention to leave. Results, in a sample of engineers, support the proposed relationship except for the moderating role of political skill in the relationship POS-intention to leave. This research contributes to the political skill and POS literatures and, hopefully, it will stimulate more interest in these important areas of inquiry.