Research seminar by by Bella L. Galperin from University of Tampa
In today’s rapidly evolving organizational landscape, norm violations are often viewed through a binary lens—either as harmful disruptions or courageous acts of innovation. But what if we’ve been missing the bigger picture?
This presentation explores a transformative perspective on Norm-Violating Behavior (NVB) in organizations, drawing from three decades of research across two traditionally siloed domains: constructive deviance and destructive workplace deviance. By synthesizing these bodies of literature, we uncover a dynamic framework that reveals how norm violations can simultaneously challenge, reinforce, and reshape organizational culture.
Together, we’ll examine the antecedents, moderators, and outcomes of NVB, and delve into the overlapping and fluid boundaries between constructive and destructive behaviors. This presentation will not only highlight the nuanced nature of NVB but also propose new directions for research and practice—empowering scholars and leaders to better understand, manage, and even harness norm violations for organizational well-being.
Bella L. Galperin, Ph.D., is Dana Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship and Senior Associate Director of the TECO Energy Center for Leadership at the Sykes College of Business at the University of Tampa. Her interests include leadership (in Africa and the African diaspora), international management, ethics, and workplace deviance- both destructive and constructive. She has published in the Journal of Business Ethics, International Journal of Human Resource Management, Leadership Quarterly, and International Business Review, Journal of African Business, Journal of Business Research, and other journals. She co-authored two books entitled, Essentials of Leadership in Africa, which was shortlisted for BCA African Business Book of the Year Awards 2025 and LEAD: Leadership Effectiveness in Africa and the African diaspora. She serves an associate editor for three journals and a board member of two non-profit organizations. She has worked as a consultant to firms in the telecommunications, pharmaceutical, and clothing industries.