Testing for Local Management Autonomy: A Question of Perception?

Abstract

Surveys based on standard questionnaires have long been a major research tool of the social scientist. The great majority have focused on one type of respondent — the workers of a given firm, the voters in a particular constituency, or whatever. For one sort of survey, namely, those that seek to know about the individuals in question, this is plainly sensible. But another sort of survey uses a respondent to provide information about the organisation for which he/she can be taken to be an authoritative informant. Questionnaires sent to the head offices of companies or unions and asking about the organisation's policy are a good example. How do we know whether the replies are in some sense representative of the organisation or are just the views of the respondent chosen?

Citation

Edwards, P.K. and Marginson, P. (1987), "Testing for Local Management Autonomy: A Question of Perception?", Personnel Review, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 12-21. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb055558