Investigating the determinants of turnover intention among companies undergoing mergers and acquisitions in Malaysia

This study explores factors influencing turnover intention among employees in companies undergoing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Malaysia, focusing on psychological ownership, exploration behavior, exploitation behavior, leader-member exchange, and turnover intention. A Google Form questionnaire was used to collect data from 166 participants, and SMART PLS 4.0 was used for analysis. The results indicate that psychological ownership positively and significantly impacts exploration and exploitation behaviors. Exploration behavior has significant and positive impacts on leader-member exchange. Leader-member exchange has significant and negative impacts on turnover intention. However, exploitation behavior does not have a significant impact on turnover intention. The mediation analysis revealed that exploration behavior and leader-member exchange mediate the relationship between psychological ownership and turnover intention, but exploitation behavior does not. The findings provide actionable insights to organizational management during M&A. By addressing the dynamics of psychological ownership, exploration and exploitation behavior, leader-member exchange, and turnover intention, the study offers practical recommendations to drive organizational innovation while maintaining operational stability during mergers and acquisitions. This work contributes to the academic understanding of employee attitudes and behaviors in the context of organizational change like M&A.