Search results
1 – 10 of over 6000This article aims to examine the role of boundaryless career orientation in influencing Internet professionals' strategies toward workplace problems in China's Internet companies…
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to examine the role of boundaryless career orientation in influencing Internet professionals' strategies toward workplace problems in China's Internet companies, which feature prominent problems including excessive overwork. It addresses one question: how do Chinese Internet professionals make grievance strategies?
Design/methodology/approach
This article draws on qualitative data based on semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 134 employees from 6 representative Chinese Internet companies. The data were collected during 2018-2021 and analyzed with a grounded theory approach.
Findings
This article highlights the role of boundaryless career orientation in explaining Chinese Internet professionals' strategies toward workplace grievances. The author develops a comprehensive model to illustrate how boundaryless career orientation influences four grievance strategies namely, strategic compliance, exit, dissent expression and resistance that correspond to four different motives to advance the professionals' boundaryless career: learning, transferring, relieving and resolving. Internet professionals choose different grievance strategies based on how each option can benefit their boundaryless career goals.
Originality/value
This article is one of the first to bring in boundaryless career orientation as a key factor in explaining Chinese Internet professionals' grievance strategies. It provides a fuller picture than previous studies by showing wide varieties of professionals' grievance behaviors. The finding of high-level boundaryless career orientation among Internet professionals offers insights on how companies can improve employment relations by improving career management practices.
Details
Keywords
Li Lin-Schilstra, Yuntao Bai, Lan Lin and Changwei Mo
Understanding employees’ multi-dimensional motivations is at the core of realizing the potential of a well-designed human resource (HR) system. This study aims to investigate…
Abstract
Purpose
Understanding employees’ multi-dimensional motivations is at the core of realizing the potential of a well-designed human resource (HR) system. This study aims to investigate whether the effects of HR practices on employee motivations, and their performance would be dependent on the service orientation of HR department.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected data in two surveys: a pilot survey and a main survey with a two-wave design. The pilot survey with 93 respondents was to verify the newly developed HR service orientation scale. In the main survey, a total of 276 supervisor-subordinate pairs from 48 companies were valid for analysis.
Findings
The authors find support for their hypothesis that promotion-oriented motivation mediates the relationship between discretionary HR practices and employee outcomes [in-role performance and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB)]. Furthermore, the indirect effect of discretionary HR practices on employee outcomes is stronger when the HR service orientation is higher. Transactional HR practices, however, are not evidenced to relate to employee prevention-focused motivation and outcomes.
Practical implications
The findings illustrate a comprehensive process of HR practices on employees’ multi-dimensional motivations. High service skills of HR professionals in handling internal employees’ needs could amplify employees’ promotion-focused motives, which in turn increase their in-role performance and OCB.
Originality/value
In sum, the authors' study contributes to both human resource management (HRM) and employee motivation literature by demonstrating the different impacts of discretionary and transactional HR practices on employees’ motivations. In addition, by revealing HR service orientation as an important contingency factor, the authors shed greater light on when and how HR practices can motivate employees.
Details
Keywords
Engaging with stakeholders in “a personal, intimate way” (Men and Tsai, 2016, p. 932) or “includ[ing] the ‘personal touch’” (Kent and Taylor, 1998, p. 323) is often seen as…
Abstract
Purpose
Engaging with stakeholders in “a personal, intimate way” (Men and Tsai, 2016, p. 932) or “includ[ing] the ‘personal touch’” (Kent and Taylor, 1998, p. 323) is often seen as desirable in internal communication management. While the importance of personal communication is undisputed from the perspectives of internal communication, its communicators, and from internal stakeholders, this is not true when it comes to the dimensions and characteristics that constitute an experience of communication as feeling personal. The present study aims to explore what makes communication personal from the employees' perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used the Q methodology and Q method, thus focusing on an individual's subjective perspective. The Q methodology was implemented in the form of a Q-sort survey exploring the perceptions of 32 German employees (selected from a representative cross-section of 400 employees in Germany, using a balanced-block design to maximize heterogeneity).
Findings
The results show that while direct and dyadic communication is often perceived as personal, many other dimensions and characteristics are also considered “personal” in both the literature and based on stakeholder perceptions. The Q-sort survey revealed four perception types whose perceptions of communication as “personal” vary widely, with all these types rejecting non-human communicators.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the limited understanding of employees' perceptions of internal communication as “personal.” It shows how the Q methodology and Q method—a rarely used perspective—can complement existing theoretical and empirical research on internal communication. For internal communication management, the findings show that a “one-size-fits-all” approach must be questioned and that a communication team's involvement in personal communication can have negative consequences.
Details
Keywords
Work-Based Learning (WBL) is a form of practical learning that is still rare, yet upcoming in academic education. It differs mainly from classical approaches because work…
Abstract
Purpose
Work-Based Learning (WBL) is a form of practical learning that is still rare, yet upcoming in academic education. It differs mainly from classical approaches because work experience forms a key curriculum element. To enable WBL, a cultural change in academic landscape seems required, which depends on views and support of academic staff.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors carried out a case study, in which the authors interviewed 20 Dutch science professors to examine their vision on the master track Science, Business and Policy (SBP), a WBL program offered for over 15 years.
Findings
Generally professors are positive about its added value and recommend the track, especially for students with career ambitions outside academia. WBL is perceived to have a positive contribution to academic level. Professors indicated that for academic skills development, compared with a traditional master's program, SBP is evaluated neutral to positive.
Originality/value
Altogether the current climate at the university of Groningen towards WBL seems predominantly positive. The educational change towards a solid inclusion of WBL in the regular curriculum seems supported by one of the key players, the professors. This track could thereby be an example for other WBL programs worldwide.
Details
Keywords
Puja Khatri, Preeti Kumari and Asha Thomas
The significant role of universities in generating and diffusing new knowledge in the interest of society has positioned faculty as knowledge creators. The present study…
Abstract
Purpose
The significant role of universities in generating and diffusing new knowledge in the interest of society has positioned faculty as knowledge creators. The present study contributes to the domain of positive psychology by heeding the happiness call in academia. The research intends to develop and validate a scale for measuring happiness at work (HAW) for knowledge creators.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is systematically designed across a series of four independent studies: (1) Dimensionality and item analysis, (2) scale purification, (3) scale refinement and nomological validation and (4) generalizability. Additionally, common method bias (CMB) was checked utilizing the marker variable technique.
Findings
HAW has been established as a second-order reflective-reflective construct with six factors, namely work satisfaction, self-directedness, self-love, positive thinking, positive social relationships and work-family balance. The nomological validity and generalizability of the scale have also been established.
Research limitations/implications
The study is an attempt to address an important topic of HAW among knowledge creators. By conceptualizing HAW as a combination of intraindividual and organizational factors, this study offers a comprehensive measure of HAW that was previously absent in the literature. The results of the study will assist management in making strategic decisions to ensure the HAW of knowledge creators.
Originality/value
Knowledge creators’ happiness is a major concern in academia and has received little attention till date. The primary contribution of this study is the conceptualization and development of a validated scale for measuring knowledge creators’ HAW. A valid and reliable scale for measuring HAW would enable researchers to gain fresh perspectives on the essence, attributes and quantification of this particularly noteworthy construct.
Details
Keywords
Anna-Leena Kurki, Elina Weiste, Hanna Toiviainen, Sari Käpykangas and Hilkka Ylisassi
The involvement of clients in service encounters and service development has become a central principle for contemporary health and social care organizations. However, in…
Abstract
Purpose
The involvement of clients in service encounters and service development has become a central principle for contemporary health and social care organizations. However, in day-to-day work settings, the shift toward client involvement is still in progress. We examined how health and social care professionals, together with clients and managers, co-develop their conceptions of client involvement and search for practical ways in which to implement these in organizational service processes.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical case of this study was a developmental intervention, the client involvement workshop, conducted in a Finnish municipal social and welfare center. The cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) framework was used to analyze the development of client involvement ideas and the modes of interaction during the intervention.
Findings
Analysis of the collective discussion revealed that the conceptions of client involvement developed through two interconnected object-orientations: Enabling client involvement in service encounters and promoting client involvement in the service system. The predominant mode of interaction in the collective discussion was that of “coordination.” The clients' perspective and contributions were central aspects in the turning points from coordination to cooperation; professionals crossed organizational boundaries, and together with clients, constructed a new client involvement-based object. This suggests that client participation plays an important role in the development of services.
Originality/value
The CHAT-based examination of the modes of interaction clarifies the potential of co-developing client-involvement-based services and highlights the importance of clients' participation in co-development.
Details
Keywords
This study attempts to answer the question: “how are the two drivers, accountability focus and organizational learning, independently and interactively associated with public…
Abstract
Purpose
This study attempts to answer the question: “how are the two drivers, accountability focus and organizational learning, independently and interactively associated with public agencies’ proactive policy orientation?” The first driver is the multiple accountabilities that public agencies pursue: (1) bureaucratic, (2) legal, (3) professional and (4) political. The second driver is the organizational learning activities of public agencies: (1) socialization, (2) externalization, (3) combination and (4) internalization.
Design/methodology/approach
For data, 800 respondents from the public agencies in South Korea were surveyed.
Findings
The analysis provided several findings: (1) the discretionary accountabilities (professional and political) have a greater positive influence on the proactive policy orientation; (2) the conventional accountabilities (legal and bureaucratic) tend to have negative impacts on the proactive policy orientation and (3) among the four types of accountability, legal accountability can be more significantly complemented by organizational learning activities, which can enable both visionary and realistic administration in a balanced manner.
Originality/value
This study provides a unique insight on how organizational proactivity can be ensured through the interactions of organizational accountabilities and organizational learning.
Details
Keywords
Ana Luiza Ferreira Aydogdu and Ulku Baykal
The recruitment of international nurses has been used for a long time to address the global nurse shortage. In 2012, the employment of international nurses was released in Turkey…
Abstract
Purpose
The recruitment of international nurses has been used for a long time to address the global nurse shortage. In 2012, the employment of international nurses was released in Turkey. Cultural differences can hinder interpersonal relationships, and fostering strong interpersonal relationships among nurses in the workplace is known to have a positive impact on productivity, job satisfaction and the quality of care provided. This study aims to explore the lived experiences and perceptions of international nurses working in Turkey regarding their professional integration and interpersonal relationships in the workplace.
Design/methodology/approach
It is a qualitative descriptive study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 19 international nurses using a semi-structured form. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Findings
Data were presented into two themes: (1) Interpersonal relationships in the workplace and (2) Professional integration. Participants reported positive and negative experiences regarding interpersonal relationships in the work environment, such as warm and supportive approaches, or exclusionary and discriminatory behaviors. The existence of different nursing practices, positive and negative factors concerning orientation programs and the gain of experience and professional satisfaction were mentioned by the participants.
Originality/value
This is the first study to explore the lived experiences and perceptions of international nurses working in Turkey. The study highlights the unique needs and challenges faced by international nurses during workplace adaptation and provides practical recommendations to facilitate interpersonal relationships in the workplace and other aspects related to professional integration from hiring to the end of the adaptation period.
Details
Keywords
Allam Abu Farha, Said Elbanna, Osama Sam Al-kwifi and Satoko Uenishi
This study seeks to investigate how managerial assumptions shape international market orientation (IMO) and how IMO, in turn, affects the performance of small and medium-sized…
Abstract
Purpose
This study seeks to investigate how managerial assumptions shape international market orientation (IMO) and how IMO, in turn, affects the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), drawing from cognitive theory and the resource-based view (RBV) to provide the theoretical framework.
Design/methodology/approach
The study focuses on the relatively unexplored domain of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan. A survey was developed and tested using data from 303 Japanese SMEs. The study model was subsequently analyzed using the partial least squares (PLS) technique.
Findings
The study reveals a nuanced relationship between managerial frames of reference (FoRs) and IMOs. The results confirmed notable congruence between interfunctional market orientation and managers who exhibit a political FoR. They also revealed a positive correlation between professional FoR managers and customer market orientation. Additionally, the findings showed that entrepreneurial FoR managers displayed a significant association with competitive market orientation and Bureaucratic FoR matched with the three types of IMO. Finally, the results indicate that all three forms of IMO have a substantial impact on performance, albeit to varying degrees.
Research limitations/implications
The applicability of our results to multinational corporations (MNCs) has not been evaluated. Since the primary focus was to identify the types of associations among FoR and IMO, the causal pathways and explanatory factors that underpinned these observed relationships were not examined in this study. Additionally, due to the geographical concentration of our sample in Japan, we were unable to conduct tests on the suggested model in other countries to validate and potentially generalize the research findings.
Practical implications
By developing an implicit understanding of the market orientation fit within the organization’s FoR, managers can enhance their understanding of competitors' activities and enable them to respond with greater efficiency.
Originality/value
To the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the rare papers that inspect the relationship between International market orientations and managerial assumptions as well as their effect on performance.
Details
Keywords
Shabir Ahmad Bhat, Makhmoor Bashir and Hafsah Jan
The purpose of this paper is to develop and test an integrated model to examine the relationship between work engagement and three facets of perceived job performance (PJP). The…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop and test an integrated model to examine the relationship between work engagement and three facets of perceived job performance (PJP). The authors argue that work engagement might not optimally improve PJP unless it is channelized through information and communication technology orientation.
Design/methodology/approach
Data for the present research were collected from higher educational institutes in the northern region of India by using a convenient sampling technique. Results of structural equation modeling (SEM) through AMOS 20 revealed that work engagement facilitates all three facets i.e. task performance, contextual performance and adaptive performance of teaching professionals. Furthermore, SEM results established the partial mediating effect of information and communication technology orientation between work engagement, task performance, contextual performance and adaptive performance.
Findings
Findings from present research contribute theoretically as well as practically to job performance and work engagement literature by giving insights to administrators and practitioners on how to improve the overall job performance of teaching professionals by enhancing their engagement and addressing their need for digital know-how.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to study the impact of work engagement and information and communication technology on the three facets of PJP using a diverse sample of 1030 teachers from universities in North India.
Details