Esprit de corps as a lever for organizational citizenship behaviors: an exploratory study in the National Police of Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

The objective of this article is to examine the relationship between esprit de corps and organizational citizenship behaviors within the National Police in Côte d'Ivoire. To achieve this, an empirical method based on an exploratory qualitative approach was employed. The analysis is based on non-probabilistic sampling, using techniques of reasoned choice and convenience. This led to the hearing of three commissioners, five officers, and eight non-commissioned officers. The collected data was subsequently analyzed thru content analysis, following Bardin's method (2013), enriched by Paillé (2016). The results highlight two key categories: esprit de corps and organizational citizenship behaviors, as well as their associated dimensions. They demonstrate that the emergence of these behaviors fluctuates according to hierarchical rank. The higher one climbs in the organizational hierarchy, the more CCOs gain institutional and symbolic impact, embodying the representation and control of the institution. Furthermore, esprit de corps is a fundamental component for cohesion, stability, and collective effectiveness. It reinforces key values ​​such as loyalty, rigor, and altruism, to the benefit of institutional efficiency and the common good of the police force.

Classification JEL : M54, O15

Paper type : Empirical Research