Cynicism, justice and behavioral support for change: a moderated mediation analysis

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to describe and explain the relationship between organizational justice, as an environment and as a buffer and suppressant for influencing cynicism about organizational change (CAOC), thereby influencing change-supportive behavior (CSB) and its impact on higher education performance (OP). The social cognitive theory was applied to test the moderating role of perceived organizational justice in the relationship between CAOC, CSB, and OP.Design/methodology/approachThe research found support for the proposed model using data collected from 91 faculties at 10 autonomous higher education institutions in Indonesia and a multisource research design with a non-academic staff sample.FindingsThis finding confirms that distributive and interactional justice only influences organizational performance when perceived as moderate or high. The moderated mediation analysis findings were supported by the moderating variable of procedural justice but were supported by the moderating variables of distributive and interactional justice.Originality/valueAs a determinant of CAOC on non-academic staff in Indonesia, a country with a high-power distance, cynicism towards change is difficult to detect due to the prevalence of silent cynicism.