Challenging the status quo : What motivates proactive behaviour?

To replicate and extend previous research regarding antecedents of proactive behaviour at work, we examined four forms of work motivation (job self‐efficacy, role breadth self‐efficacy, intrinsic work motivation and role orientation) in a sample of 98 employees in software development using co‐worker rated proactive behaviour as an outcome. Correlations indicate that whereas intrinsic motivation and job self‐efficacy were not related to co‐worker rated proactive behaviour, role orientation and role breadth self‐efficacy showed significant relationships. This study stresses the importance of role breadth self‐efficacy in enhancing proactive behaviour at work.