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Article
Publication date: 9 August 2013

Josette M.P. Gevers and Evangelia Demerouti

This study aims to examine supervisors' temporal reminders and subordinates' pacing style as they relate to employees' absorption in work tasks, and subsequently creativity.

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine supervisors' temporal reminders and subordinates' pacing style as they relate to employees' absorption in work tasks, and subsequently creativity.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved a weekly diary study among 32 employees of an IT‐development department of a large multinational. An initial questionnaire measured employees' pacing style and their perceptions of supervisors' temporal reminders, after which participants completed a weekly survey for four consecutive weeks to report on their levels of task absorption and creativity.

Findings

Whereas supervisors' temporal reminders related positively with task absorption for individuals who scored high rather than low on the deadline action pacing style, they related negatively to task absorption for those high rather than low on the steady action and the U‐shaped action pacing styles. Moreover, task absorption fluctuated consistently with individual creativity.

Research limitations/implications

The way individuals allocate efforts over time is not only related to the resources they invest in activities but also to their creativity.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that creativity requires that employees find the time and space to fully immerse in their work. Supervisors can facilitate this process by customizing their leadership practices to individual differences in time use.

Social implications

In an increasingly time‐pressured corporate society, an effective management of temporal strategies is important to ensure sustained employee well‐being as well as the quality of products in terms of creative solutions.

Originality/value

This study is the first to show that supervisors' temporal reminders relate positively to task absorption, and subsequent creativity levels, but only for specific pacing styles.

Details

Journal of Managerial Psychology, vol. 28 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0268-3946

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 April 2022

Halenur Soysal-Kurt and Selçuk Kürşat İşleyen

Assembly lines are one of the places where energy consumption is intensive in manufacturing enterprises. The use of robots in assembly lines not only increases productivity but…

Abstract

Purpose

Assembly lines are one of the places where energy consumption is intensive in manufacturing enterprises. The use of robots in assembly lines not only increases productivity but also increases energy consumption and carbon emissions. The purpose of this paper is to minimize the cycle time and total energy consumption simultaneously in parallel robotic assembly lines (PRAL).

Design/methodology/approach

Due to the NP-hardness of the problem, A Pareto hybrid discrete firefly algorithm based on probability attraction (PHDFA-PA) is developed. The algorithm parameters are optimized using the Taguchi method. To evaluate the results of the algorithm, a multi-objective programming model and a restarted simulated annealing (RSA) algorithm are used.

Findings

According to the comparative study, the PHDFA-PA has a competitive performance with the RSA. Thus, it is possible to achieve a sustainable PRAL through the proposed method by addressing the cycle time and total energy consumption simultaneously.

Originality/value

To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first study addressing energy consumption in PRAL. The proposed method for PRAL is efficient in solving the multi-objective balancing problem.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 39 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 August 2017

Manish Gupta, Musarrat Shaheen and Prathap K. Reddy

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of work engagement (WE) between psychological capital (PsyCap) and the two facets of organizational citizenship behavior…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of work engagement (WE) between psychological capital (PsyCap) and the two facets of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) which involves both individual and organization. It also examines the moderating role of perceived organizational support (POS) between PsyCap and WE, and WE and the two facets of OCB.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 293 responses gathered from employees working in diverse service sector industries in India were assessed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Overall, the results support the mediating role of WE in the PsyCap-OCB relationship, and the moderation of POS between WE and the two facets of OCB.

Research limitations/implications

This study helps in understanding how WE-OCB relationship can be negatively affected in the presence of high POS.

Practical implications

The results encourage organizations to establish systems for enhancing the engagement levels of their employees, which according to this study may be achieved by creating and maintaining vibrant work environment.

Originality/value

This study helps in understanding the role of POS among PsyCap, WE, \and the two factors of OCB.

Details

Journal of Management Development, vol. 36 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0262-1711

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 6 April 2021

Bhawana Bhardwaj and Namrita Kalia

Extensive work related to examining predictors and determinants of employee engagement and job performance have been conducted in past studies. A dearth of studies relating…

13189

Abstract

Purpose

Extensive work related to examining predictors and determinants of employee engagement and job performance have been conducted in past studies. A dearth of studies relating organizational culture and employee engagement with contextual and task performance in the hospitality industry necessitated the present study. This study aims to examine variability in the task and contextual performance owing to employee engagement and organizational culture.

Design/methodology/approach

The study has been conducted in four districts of Himachal Pradesh using a multistage sampling technique. A total of 360 hotel employees were involved in collecting their responses through a structured questionnaire.

Findings

The results of multiple regression showed that vigor, dedication and absorption variables of employee engagement contribute toward contextual performance. Vigor and absorption affect the task performance of employees. In the case of contextual performance vigor shows maximum contribution followed by absorption and dedication whereas for task performance, the maximum contribution is exhibited by absorption followed by vigor. Organizational culture sub-variables of experimentation, autonomy and trust came out to be major predictors, which help to improve contextual and task performance of employees.

Practical implications

The study suggests that psychological ownership, along with trust toward top management can create an enriched work culture, which influenced both the contextual and task performance of employees. The findings of the study can be practically used by government and private organizations for improving workforce performance in the hospitality industry. Future research can be conducted based on the findings of the study.

Originality/value

The study provides insight on how and to what extent cultural and employee engagement variables can affect employee’s contextual and task performance. The present study adds value to the existing literature and investigates the role of culture and employee engagement in enhancing task and contextual job performance. Managers and policymakers can use the findings of the study to improve organizational culture, employee engagement and performance of the employees in the hospitality sector. The study opens avenues for future studies.

Details

Vilakshan - XIMB Journal of Management, vol. 18 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0973-1954

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 February 2022

Tsz-Wai Lui and Lakshmi Goel

Training is one of the key dimensions of internal marketing. Virtual reality (VR), a computer technology that replicates an environment (real or imagined) and simulates a user’s…

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Abstract

Purpose

Training is one of the key dimensions of internal marketing. Virtual reality (VR), a computer technology that replicates an environment (real or imagined) and simulates a user’s physical presence in that environment to allow for user interaction, offers unique opportunities from a training perspective, such as allowing users to improve their skills without the consequence of failing real customers or the need to be in the real environment physically. This study aims to focus on comparing the effectiveness of VR hospitality training with that of real-world hospitality training.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts situated cognition theory to empirically test the effect of the awareness of contextual variables (social interaction, location and task) on learning and compare learning outcomes between tourism training in VR and real-world experimental settings.

Findings

Results indicate that location and task awareness enhance cognitive absorption, but social awareness does not influence cognitive absorption. There is no significant difference between training in real-world and VR environments. Finally, cognitive absorption has a positive effect on mental model change (the learning outcome).

Originality/value

This result advances the theoretical understanding on the significance of learning context by applying situated cognition theory in hospitality training and has significant implications for training that aims for rigor and efficiency within cost, location and time constraints.

研究目的

培训是内部营销的关键维度之一。 虚拟现实 (VR), 一种复制某种环境(真实的或想象的)并模拟在该环境中实质性存在的用户的计算机技术并且允许用户交互, 从培训的角度来看提供独特的机会, 例如允许用户在没有培训的情况下提高他们的技能避免承担损失真实客户的后果或需要实际身处真实环境中。 本研究的重点是比较 VR 酒店培训与现实世界的招待培训的效果。

研究设计/方法/途径

本研究采用情境认知理论对情境变量(社交互动、位置和任务)的认识对学习和比较 VR 和现实世界实验环境中的旅游培训之间的学习成果进行实证检验。

研究发现

结果表明, 位置和任务意识增强了认知吸收, 但社会意识不影响认知吸收。 在现实世界和 VR 环境中的训练之间没有显着差异。 最后, 认知吸收对心理模式改变(学习结果)有显著积极作用。

研究原创性/价值

该结果通过在酒店培训中应用情境认知理论促进了对学习情境重要性的理论理解, 并对旨在成本、地点和时间限制内实现严谨和高效的培训具有重要意义。

Article
Publication date: 19 June 2023

Chia-Huei Wu, Matthew Davis, Hannah Collis, Helen Hughes and Linhao Fang

This study aims to examine the role of location autonomy (i.e. autonomy over where to work) in shaping employee mental distress during their working days.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the role of location autonomy (i.e. autonomy over where to work) in shaping employee mental distress during their working days.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 316 employees from 6 organizations in the UK provided data for 4,082 half-day sessions, over 10 working days. Random intercept modeling is used to analyze half-day data nested within individuals.

Findings

Results show that location autonomy, beyond decision-making autonomy and work-method autonomy, is positively associated with the perception of task-environment (TE) fit which, in turn, contributes to lower mental distress during each half-day session. Results of supplementary analysis also show that location autonomy can contribute to higher absorption, task proficiency and job satisfaction via TE fit during each half-day session.

Originality/value

This study reveals the importance and uniqueness of location autonomy in shaping employees' outcomes, offering implications for how organizations can use this in the work–life flexibility policies to support employee mental health.

Details

Personnel Review, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0048-3486

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 May 2017

Seyyed Mahdi Hosseini, Peyman Akhavan and Morteza Abbasi

This paper intends to propose an approach for formation of the R&D project teams, so that in addition to the selection of the most expert individuals, facilitates the knowledge…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper intends to propose an approach for formation of the R&D project teams, so that in addition to the selection of the most expert individuals, facilitates the knowledge sharing among people.

Design/methodology/approach

Mathematical modeling was used to formulate the problem of selecting appropriate members for the project team. As the problem was formulated as a bi-objective mixed integer nonlinear programming problem, it was initially transformed from nonlinear to linear problem, and then, the global criterion method was applied to convert the problem into a single-objective problem. To collect the data for exogenous variables, the measurement scales (their validity had been verified in previous research) were adopted.

Findings

The results of various tests for evaluating the proposed approach in the case study confirmed its effectiveness in selecting the appropriate members of the project team.

Practical implications

Using the proposed approach, R&D project managers will be able to select the most appropriate members for the project team and, while ensuring the achievement of project objectives, prevent the loss of knowledge gained in the project lifecycle.

Originality/value

This paper is the first attempt to provide an approach for sharing the knowledge gained by the project team members in the R&D projects.

Details

VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, vol. 47 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2059-5891

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 April 2016

Barbara Plester and Ann Hutchison

The idea of workplace fun seems positive, straightforward and simple but emerging research suggests a surprising complexity and ambiguity to this concept. Drawing on recent…

9120

Abstract

Purpose

The idea of workplace fun seems positive, straightforward and simple but emerging research suggests a surprising complexity and ambiguity to this concept. Drawing on recent literature and empirical data, the purpose of this paper is to use three different forms of workplace fun: managed, organic and task fun to examine the relationship between fun and workplace engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an ethnographic approach, the qualitative data originated from four different New Zealand organizations, within different industries. Organizations included a law firm, a financial institution, an information technology company and a utility services provider. Data for this study were collected from semi-structured interviews with a range of participants in each company. In total 59 interviews were conducted with approximately 15 originating from each of the four organizations. One full-time month was spent within each company experiencing the everyday life and behaviours at all levels of each organization. The specific focus of the research is organizational culture and humour and during analysis findings emerged that linked to engagement, fun, disengagement and the concept of flow.

Findings

This paper offers exploratory findings that suggest some specific connections between the concepts of fun and engagement. Empirical connections between these concepts are not currently apparent in either engagement or fun research, yet the data suggest some firm associations between them. The exploratory findings suggest that some forms of workplace fun offer individual employees a refreshing break which creates positive affect. Participants perceive that such affect results in greater workplace and task engagement. Additionally the data show that some people experience their work tasks as a form of fun and the authors link this to a specific form of engagement known as “flow” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1975; Moneta, 2010). The authors suggest an organizational-level effect, where workplace fun creates enjoyment which stimulates greater overall engagement with the team, unit or organization itself. Conversely the data also suggest that for some people managed or organic fun (see Plester et al., 2015) creates distraction, disharmony or dissonance that disrupts their flow and can foster disengagement.

Practical implications

The ambiguity and complexity in the relationship between these concepts is an emerging topic for research that offers a variety of implications for scholars and practitioners of HRM and organizational behaviour. The authors contend that workplace fun potentially offers practitioners opportunities for fostering a climate of high engagement which may include most employees and thus create additional workplace benefits. Additionally through highlighting employee reactions to different types of fun we suggest ways of avoiding employee disengagement, disharmony and cynicism and the associated negative effects.

Originality/value

The concept of fun is not empirically linked with current engagement research and the authors assert that workplace fun is an important driver of employee engagement. The authors identity engagement at the individual task level and further extend engagement research by emphasizing that fun has the potential to create engagement at the team, unit or organizational level. These differing levels of engagement have not thus far been differentiated in the extant literature.

Details

Employee Relations, vol. 38 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0142-5455

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 7 July 2015

Avina J. Mendonca, Nidhi Mishra and Sanket S. Dash

The chapter studies the flow experience among academicians and the determinants of flow initiation and development. The academicians’ studied, have both research and teaching…

Abstract

The chapter studies the flow experience among academicians and the determinants of flow initiation and development. The academicians’ studied, have both research and teaching duties. The data for the study is drawn from 12 interviews conducted with academicians in India, with science, social science, and statistics as their fields of study. The study finds that different psychological needs can lead to flow experiences. It is proposed that the relationship between flow and psychological needs is influenced by personality traits (openness to experience and conscientiousness), which are reflected in day-day behavior (spontaneity and structuring). Interaction between humans (either students or collaborators) induced and strengthened flow-like feelings and emotional well-being, subject to certain conditions. Problem solving was found to be the key determinant of flow. Overall flow was found to be higher among research-oriented people working in science.

Details

New Ways of Studying Emotions in Organizations
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78560-220-7

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 April 2016

Peyman Akhavan, S. Mahdi Hosseini and Morteza Abbasi

The purpose of this paper is to provide a method for selection of the new product development (NPD) project team members, in such a way to maximize the expertise level of team…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a method for selection of the new product development (NPD) project team members, in such a way to maximize the expertise level of team members and at the same time, optimize knowledge sharing in the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

According to the motivation-opportunity-ability framework, knowledge sharing antecedents were determined. Then, the problem of selecting appropriate members of the project team was formulated as a bi-objective integer non-linear programming model. Due to the uncertainty conditions in the evaluation of candidates, the fuzzy sets approach was used for modeling. To solve the problem, first, the non-linear programming model was converted to a linear model. Subsequently, the fuzzy bi-objective linear programming problem was solved by using an approximate algorithm.

Findings

Results of applying the proposed method to an Iranian ship-building company showed its effectiveness in selecting appropriate members of the project team.

Practical implications

With the aid of the proposed approach, project managers will be able to form effective project teams that while increasing the success probability of the project, facilitate the maintenance of knowledge acquired during the project lifecycle.

Originality/value

This paper, for the first time, has tried to provide a method for selecting the NPD project team members, in a way that while selecting candidates with highest expertise, maximizes the sharing of knowledge among them.

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