Are all positive deviance behaviours equal?
This study seeks to investigate the nature and consequence of positive deviance behaviours in organisations and their impact upon outcomes of cohesive and innovation. By reviewing the dimensions of positive deviance behaviours a taxonomy is proposed: (1) change oriented positive deviance (COPD) behaviours, and (2) welfare oriented positive deviance (WOPD) behaviours. Formal hypotheses draw links between positive deviance and the critical outcomes of cohesiveness and innovation, as well as a number of antecedents that are predicted to differentially impact WOPD and COPD behaviours. This study will adopt a positivist epistemology and will formally test the hypotheses through two empirical studies. The study will contribute to bridging a theoretical gap that currently exists with regard to the structure and content of positive deviance.
