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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Qionglei YuORCiD, Dr Yu YeORCiD
This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Emerald Publishing Limited, 2022.
For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Purpose: The study signals the relevance of internal market orientation (IMO) as an organizational process for improving interdepartmental relationships and employee satisfaction, which in turn serves to leverage performance. The study has three main objectives: a) to consider the adaptation of IMO at the departmental level, whereby internal departments are identified as internal customers, b) gauging the impact of IMO on interdepartmental relationships, employee satisfaction and organizational performance, and c) testing the mediating role of employee satisfaction in linking interdepartmental relationships i.e., connectedness and conflict with organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach: The study observes the proposed relationships by drawing on a sample of 816 managers from 272 companies. Through accessing three respondents in each organization and asking them to focus on different constructs, the study’s methodology avoids common methods bias. Partial least square was used to test the hypotheses posited in the concept. Findings: The findings confirm that IMO at the departmental level is critical for facilitating interdepartmental relationships within the organization. In particular, high levels of IMO can enhance interdepartmental connectedness, reduce interdepartmental conflict and improve employee satisfaction. Employee satisfaction not only influences firm performance directly, but also plays a mediating role in linking interdepartmental relationships i.e., connectedness and conflict with performance. Implications: The identification of IMO at the departmental level can help firms collect ideas from staff across different departments, facilitate open and constructive communication and react promptly to other departments. Through a social information processing lens, this leads to the creation of a positive organizational atmosphere, contributing significantly to enhancing employee satisfaction and firm performance. Originality: The findings of the study contribute to the area by supporting the legitimacy of IMO at the departmental level and its positive impact on internal relationships and employee satisfaction, which in turn leverages performance advantages for the firm. Research limitations: While this study is conducted in the Chinese context, future research may consider testing the framework in different sectors and geographical areas. In addition, more objective measures of firm performance could be used in future studies and other mediating and moderating variables may be added to further advance our understanding of the subject at large.
Author(s): Yu Q, Barnes B, Ye Y
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: European Journal of Marketing
Year: 2022
Volume: 56
Issue: 5
Pages: 1464-1487
Print publication date: 24/05/2022
Online publication date: 27/04/2022
Acceptance date: 26/03/2022
Date deposited: 28/03/2022
ISSN (print): 0309-0566
ISSN (electronic): 1758-7123
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited
URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-11-2020-0800
DOI: 10.1108/EJM-11-2020-0800
ePrints DOI: 10.57711/z5ck-rv35
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