Decoding workplace ostracism in the Asian context: a hybrid review of literature and emerging research trends

Abstract

The literature aims to strive to unearth current research developments, conceptual underpinnings and a future research agenda that enhances understanding of the phenomenon and its organizational implications by programming an assimilation of the existing literature on workplace ostracism with a specific focus upon the Asian context. At the outset, 422 research papers were assimilated from the Scopus database. Altogether 225 publications were produced after removing the redundant and repeated studies – particularly those that overlapped with database like Scopus, ProQuest – were eliminated using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews an metanalyses approach. Literature that focussed upon workplace ostracism of organizations in Asian context were provided more attention. Authors conducted bibliometric analysis which encompassed word cloud analyses, cluster analyses, intellectual structure map on emerging research trends, thematic evolution maps. The review portrays that workplace ostracism has deleterious impacts on workforce job performance, psychological well-being and overall organizational efficiency. The synthesis of studies highlights the important patterns regarding its organizational implications. While global perspectives dominate the discussion, existing literature focussing on Asia unravel culturally nuanced mechanisms of exclusion, coping strategies and organizational responses. The current literature originates a regio-centric specific analysis if workplace exclusion by harping upon Asian cultural settings by focussing on a critical gap often overlooked in the extant research. The paper enriches theoretical understanding and practical relevance by investigating how cultural norms and ethics in Asia impact experience and perceptions of ostracism at work. It also fine-tunes culturally attuned directions for future research, symbolizing insights that are both academically significant and applicable in real world organizational contexts, while providing an insightful reference for academicians and practitioners alike.