Organizational cognitive neuroscience: A step ahead in understanding counterproductive workplace behavior

Abstract

This paper discusses the dawn of cognitive neuroscience in management and organizational research. The study does that in two tiers: first, it reviews the interdisciplinary field of organizational cognitive neuroscience, and second, it analyzes the role organizational cognitive neuroscience (OCN) could play in reducing counterproductive workplace behaviors (CWB). Theoretically, the literature has established the benefits of a neuro-scientific approach to understanding various organizational behaviors, but no research has been done on using organizational neuroscience techniques to study counterproductive work behaviors. This paper, however, has taken the first step towards this research avenue. The study will shed light on this interdisciplinary field of organizational cognitive neuroscience (OCN) and the benefits that organizations can reap from it with respect to understanding employee behavior. A research agenda for future studies is provided to scholars who are interested in advancing the investigation of cognition in counterproductive work behaviors, also by using neuroscience techniques. The study concludes by providing evidence drawn from the literature in favor of adopting an OCN approach in organizations.