구조적/내용적 경력정체와 창의적 행동 간의 관계 및 조직냉소주의의 매개역할: 대형항공사와 저비용항공사 승무원 비교연구

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aims to identify the mediating variables that have not been clearly presented in previous research on structural/content career plateau. In an era where restructuring and workforce shortages have become commonplace, airline flight attendants may develop negative perceptions of their organizations. Structural/Content career plateau, as perceived by flight attendants in terms of rank and job roles, can foster dissatisfaction and contribute to organizational cynicism, as negative reciprocal relationships may occur between organizational member and organization. This cynicism can discourage employees from engaging in discretionary roles, thereby impeding creative behavior. To explore these dynamics, this study examines the mediating role of organizational cynicism in the relationship between structural/content career plateau and creative behavior. In addition, the effects of structural and content career plateau may differ between flight attendants working for full‑service carriers (FSCs) and those employed by low‑cost carriers (LCCs). FSCs are characterized by bureaucratic structures with steep hierarchical pyramids, abundant regulations and procedures, and high task specialization, whereas LCCs exhibit more organic structures where a smaller flight attendant size leads to more promotion opportunities and broader job responsibilities. Accordingly, FSC attendants are likely to perceive a stronger positive association between structural/content career plateau and organizational cynicism, a stronger negative association between organizational cynicism and creative behavior, and a more pronounced mediating effect of organizational cynicism on the relationship between structural/content career plateau and creative behavior than their LCC counterparts. Analyzing data from 294 airline flight attendants, the findings reveal the following. First, both structural/ content career plateau positively influence organizational cynicism. Second organizational cynicism negatively impacts creative behavior. Third, organizational cynicism mediates the relationship between structural and content plateau and creative behavior. Specifically, structural and content career stagnation influenced creative behavior only through organizational cynicism, and when comparing FSC and LCC flight attendants, FSC flight attendants showed a stronger mediating effect of organizational cynicism than LCC flight attendants on the positive relationship between content career stagnation and organizational cynicism, the negative relationship between organizational cynicism and creative behavior, and the relationship between structural and content career stagnation and creative behavior. In addition, LCC flight attendants exhibited a stronger positive relationship between structural career stagnation and organizational cynicism than their FSC counterparts. Based on these findings, this study discusses the implications for understanding the relationship between structural/content career plateau, organizational cynicism, and creative behavior among FSC and LCC airline flight attendants.