Department of Organizational Behaviour, Human Resources Management and Management

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14078/24

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The moderating effect of situation strength on the relationship between personality and provision of effort
(2006) Withey, Michael J.; Gellatly, Ian R.; Annett, Michael
In this research, we examine whether effort‐allocation decisions are influenced by the strength of the situation, the personality characteristics of the people involved, and the interaction between these factors. Two role‐playing scenarios were created using contextual information (e.g., availability of suitable alternatives) that varied in situation strength. We measured the Big Five personality factors (emotional stability, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) of 418 students prior to the role‐playing task and assessed effort‐provision decisions after they were exposed to one of the role‐playing scenarios. As predicted, our results showed that the effect of personality on provision of effort depended on the strength of the situation. The implications for personality research are discussed.
Institutional theory
(2008) Lawrence, Thomas B.; Shadnam, Masoud
Institutional theory is a theoretical framework for analyzing social (particularly organizational) phenomena, which views the social world as significantly comprised of institutions - enduring rules, practices, and structures that set conditions on action.
Framing sustainable performance with the Six-P
(2009) Carleton, Karen
A systemic needs assessment can help close performance gaps for continuous improvement. The Six-P framework assesses organizational sustainability with six elements: perception, potential, practice, profit, planet, and people. It builds on Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model, Phillips’s return on investment, and a triple bottom-line focus, facilitating corporate social responsibility. The framework, with its question guide and suggested assessment methods, highlights the importance of societal and environmental performance. The case study in this article illustrates the application of the Six-P framework for assessing sustainability.
The regulation of morality in formal organizations: the case of Iranian oil industry
(2011) Shadnam, Masoud
Questioning the moral foundations and consequences of formal organizations has become a central concern in organization theory. Despite the extensive research in this broad area, organization scholars have not yet adequately investigated the systematic effects of a formal organization on the morality of its own members, particularly from a process perspective. As a result, today little is known about the internal dynamics of organizations as it treats and influences the morality of organizational members. To address this issue, the present study takes a discursive understanding of morality and explores the intra-organizational processes that regulate the moral discourse of organizational members. The theoretical foundation of this research draws on the literatures of institutional theory and critical management studies, and highlights two domains – practice and privilege – as primary sites of moral regulation in organizations. The question that guides the present study is – what are the common patterns of regulating practice and privilege that characterizes the organizational regulation of morality? This work investigates these patterns in the context of the Iranian oil industry, which has been the largest industry and the main source of national income in Iran for the past century. The oil industry is particularly appropriate and interesting for this study because in the face of several radical changes in the broader moral order of the Iranian society, the organizations of this industry have been able to regulate the morality of their members regarding the issues of concern for their business. The findings suggest that organizations in this industry regulate the morality of their members mainly through four processes: Repositioning, restructuring, reframing, and cooperating/not cooperating. The collected data also points to some of the salient institutional characteristics that underlie the organizational regulation of morality. I discuss the insights that these findings provide for organization research on moral phenomena and highlight the various aspects of the active role of organization in regulating morality. I conclude the thesis with a review of the implications for theoretical understanding of morality and propose directions for future research in this area.
Understanding widespread misconduct in organizations: an institutional theory of moral collapse
(2011) Shadnam, Masoud
Reports of widespread misconduct in organizations have become sadly commonplace. Sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, accounting fraud in large corporations, and physical and sexual harassment in the military implicate not only the individuals involved, but the organizations and fields in which they happened. In this paper we describe such situations as instances of "moral collapse" and develop a multi-level theory of moral collapse that draws on institutional theory as its central orienting lens. We draw on institutional theory because of its explicit concern with the relationships among individual beliefs and actions, the organizations within which they occur, and the collective social structures in which norms, rules and beliefs are anchored. Our theory of moral collapse has two main elements. First, we argue that morality in organizations is embedded in nested systems of individuals, organizations and moral communities in which ideology and regulation flow "down" from moral communities through organizations to individuals, and moral ideas and influence flow "upward" from individuals through organizations to moral communities. Second, we argue that moral collapse is associated with breakdowns in these flows, and explore conditions under which such breakdowns are likely to occur.
A consumer perspective of service quality in the airline industry
(2011) Hossain, Muhammad Muazzem; Ouedraogo, Noufou; Rezania, Davar
The airline Service quality has received much attention from both academicians and practitioners. Various studies have used SERVQUAL, AIRQUAL, the Kano Model, etc. for measuring the customer service quality in the airline industry. However, a review of the airline service quality literature shows a lack of research about the use of latent semantic analysis (LSA) in uncovering the underlying factors affecting the quality of service provided by the airline companies. The purpose of this study is to explore the generic service quality characteristics pertaining to the airline industry by mining the comments provided by the passengers of various airline companies across the globe. Passengers are under no pressure to express their concerns, opinions, or suggestions for improvement of service quality. Therefore, we posit that the customers’ comments are reflections of their perception of quality of service that they have already experienced. This study will help the stakeholders better understand the characteristics of service quality in the airline industry. The findings will provide managers in the airline industry with insights for managing and improving the quality of service rendered to their customers. We collected 1,069 customer comments on eleven airline companies and conducted an LSA on them to identify five factors affecting the service quality in the industry. The findings suggest that caring and friendly crews, luggage handling, in-flight meals, in-flight entertainment, and service expectation are the five critical factors of the airline service quality in the eyes of the customers.
How to motivate and retain knowledge workers in organizations: a review of the literature
(2011) Carleton, Karen
With the exponential growth of information and the increasingly rapid rate of change, one of the most valuable resources in organizations today is knowledge workers. These individuals are pivotal to effective change management and organizational sustainability. Knowledge workers process, synthesize and generate knowledge in order to problem solve and innovate in organizations. Characterized by a high level of education, superior interpersonal communications skills, and exceptional information processing abilities, these employees are generally more concerned with adding value to the organization than earning a high salary. Based on the research, some ways to motivate and retain knowledge workers include: providing challenging and meaningful work, enabling learning and career development opportunities, ensuring adequate resources, recognizing contributions, and creating a supportive environment.
Student acceptance of knowledge management systems: evidence from a Canadian business school
(2013) Rezania, Davar; Hossain, Muhammad Muazzem; Ouedraogo, Noufou
This study investigates the factors affecting the perceived usefulness of and the intention to use knowledge management (KM) systems by students. The research model posits that the intention to use KM systems in higher education depends on perceived usefulness, perceived user-friendliness, organizational rewards, and community of practice. A survey method was used to collect the data for the study. We used a convenience sample consisting of undergraduate students enrolled in various business courses in a Canadian University. The data obtained from a sample of 120 students were initially factor analyzed to identify the relevant factors. Separate factor analysis was conducted for each of three types of measures – the independent measures, the intermediate measures, and the dependent measure. In order to test the proposed hypotheses, we employed the method of multiple regression analysis. The findings suggest that organizational rewards and KM system characteristics positively impact perceived usefulness, and that user-friendliness, usefulness, organizational rewards, and community of practice are significant predictors of intention to use KM system. This analysis reveals that business schools need to focus on usefulness and practical relevance of knowledge captured in knowledge management systems. This is in line with the current debate in management education regarding the appropriateness of methods employed to teach business knowledge. Organizational rewards being a significant predictor of intention to use KM systems corroborate the expectancy theory. Therefore, it is important for business schools to communicate on the usefulness of their KM systems but also to encourage its usage through different incentives.
Heterologous and homologous perspectives on the relation between morality and organization illustration of implications for studying the rise of private military and security industry
(2013) Shadnam, Masoud
Organization studies of morality have paid scant attention to theorizing the relation between morality and organization before engaging in empirical work, which has resulted in inconsistent and incompatible theories implicitly entailed in different empirical studies. In this article, I distinguish between two theoretical perspectives regarding this relation—heterologous and homologous—based on whether morality and organization are viewed as distinct and independent from one another or orders of intertwined constitution. I discuss the implications of taking each perspective for research question and design, and show how the choice of theoretical perspective leads to starkly different conclusions about a single phenomenon. I also illustrate these arguments in the case of studying the recent rise of private military and security industry. To conclude, I highlight the theoretical and methodological contributions of the distinction between heterologous and homologous perspectives and discuss future avenues that it opens for organization research on morality.
The caring and keeping of knowledge workers
(2014) Carleton, Karen
This article offers an overview of elements involved with enabling the performance of employees who do knowledge work.
Proactive personality at work: seeing more to do and doing more?
(2014) Bergeron, Diane; Kriz, Tiffany; Martinez, Hector A.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and test a model relating proactive personality to job behaviors (task and citizenship behaviors) through the intervening mediator of perceived role breadth. Design/methodology/approach: Survey data were obtained from 530 faculty members in 69 U. S. research universities. Findings Proactive personality was positively related to task behavior and OCB. Perceived role breadth mediated the relationship between proactive personality and OCB, but did not mediate the relationship between proactive personality and task behavior. Despite not viewing their role more broadly, individuals higher in proactive personality engaged more frequently in both task behavior and OCB; and also worked more hours per week. Implications: Having a better understanding of proactive individuals is important in terms of managing them. Because these individuals tend to do more in their jobs and subsequently work more hours, they may be more susceptible to burnout and may require additional help in determining priorities and balancing their work and lives. Originality/value: This is the first study to show that proactive personality is positively related to the frequency with which these individuals engage in task and citizenship behavior. Although role breadth is generally an antecedent of such job behaviors, individuals higher in proactive personality engage more frequently in task behaviors regardless of whether or not they perceive them as part of their role. This is one of the first studies to show that working more hours each week is a potential cost of having a proactive personality.
The dual effects of organizational citizenship behavior: relationships to research productivity and career outcomes in academe
(2014) Bergeron, Diane; Ostroff, Cheri; Kriz, Tiffany; Block, Caryn
Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) has been shown to be important for organizational effectiveness, yet less is known about the relationship between OCB and objective outcomes for individuals. We investigate the relationship between OCB and both short-term and longer term outcomes within the context of an outcome-based reward system. We also investigate a type of OCB specific to professional occupations, namely, professional service OCB. Using resource allocation and social exchange theories, we hypothesize that OCB directed internally to the employing organization may have a negative impact on individuals’ productivity and career outcomes while engaging in professional service OCB would be positively related to these outcomes. Results from a survey of 622 faculty members in research universities provide support for these hypotheses. Future research directions are discussed.
The elephant in the room: changing roles of librarians and library technicians
(2014) James, Norene; Shamchuk, Lisa; Koch, Katherine
The findings from current research will be presented about what librarians and library technicians would like to see in order to achieve a harmonious balance. This session will be interactive and allow for the audience to share their ideas as to how we can better understand each other’s critical role in creating a compatible environment.
Mathematic achievement of Canadian private school students
(2014) Cadigan, Françoise; Wei, Yichun; Clifton, Rodney A.
Very little Canadian research has examined the academic achievement of private school students. 2003 data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) were used to examine the achievement of private school students, which is similar to a recent study examining Canadian public school children's academic achievement (Wei, Clifton, & Roberts, 2011). The current study found that private school students outperformed their public school peers. In addition, the students' morale, motivation, interest in mathematics, expected education, the effort invested in doing well on the PISA test, and socioeconomic status were significantly and positively related to their academic performance. Surprisingly, the cost of their tuition fees, reported hours spent on math homework, sense of belonging, and higher ratio of instructional time on mathematics were significantly, but negatively, related to the students' math performance.
Theorizing morality in context
(2015) Shadnam, Masoud
How does context condition morality? This is one of the core questions of the sociology of morality and also one that has remained largely untheorized till date. In this article, we draw on insights from symbolic interactionism, and develop a theoretical framework that highlights the role of context in variation of morality. This framework is informed by a view of the self as a reflexive process that engages with moral norms through giving a self-account in relation to the norms. Based on this view, we distinguish between three contextual dimensions that condition morality: symbolic forms, scenes of address, and narrating subjects. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of the presented theoretical framework for sociological studies of morality.
Changing professional roles in academic libraries: Structures and relationships
(2015) James, Norene; Shamchuk, Lisa; Koch, Katherine; Laplante, Denis
Investigators conducted a survey in February 2014 that captured perceptions from library technicians and librarians across Canada about the changing roles and dynamics of work relationships. Focused on results from the academic library sector, this paper will share how work responsibilities, professional roles, and relationships between the professions are perceived to be changing. Results will be of interest to academic librarians who seek evidence on changing professional roles, relationships between professions, issues of power and hierarchy in the workplace, as well as the need to mindfully reinvent organizational structures and culture.
Changing professional roles in academic libraries: structures and relationships
(2015) James, Norene; Shamchuk, Lisa; Koch, Katherine; Laplante, Denis
Investigators conducted a survey in February 2014 that captured perceptions from library technicians and librarians across Canada about the changing roles and dynamics of work relationships. Focused on results from the academic library sector, this paper will share how work responsibilities, professional roles, and relationships between librarians and library technicians are perceived to be changing, as well as provide suggestions for improving workplace culture. Results will be of interest to academic librarians and library technicians who seek evidence of changing professional roles, and relationships between professions, as well as the need to mindfully reinvent organizational structures and culture.
Changing roles of librarians and library technicians
(2015) James, Norene; Shamchuk, Lisa; Koch, Katherine
What significant changes are librarians and library technicians experiencing in their roles? A survey put forward across Canada to librarians and library technicians addressing this question was conducted in February 2014. Eight hundred eighty-two responses were obtained from librarians, defined as MLIS graduates, and library technicians, defined as graduates from a two-year library diploma program. Respondents needed to have been employed in the last two years in these roles and students of either an MLIS or LIT program were also welcome to participate. The results suggest that both librarians and library technicians perceive their roles as growing in scope and complexity and that the lines of responsibility are blurring. A majority of respondents indicated that they perceive a change in their roles in the past five years and commented on what the perceived changes were. Librarian and library technician roles may be shifting away from what may be viewed as traditional or clearly defined responsibilities and both librarians and library technicians may be taking on new tasks as well as experiencing task overlap. All library staff will need to be fluid, adaptable, and open to change. Library school curricula and workplace training need to incorporate the development of these competencies.
Whose job is it anyways? Examining workplace dynamics
(2015) James, Norene; Shamchuk, Lisa
What does it mean to be a library technician in 2015? How is the library technician’s role changing and could this affect the relationship with other working professionals in libraries? How do we encourage positive team dynamics? A survey conducted recently by the presenters identified significant changes to roles of librarians and library technicians. Core competencies and responsibilities are changing and roles are often blurred. However, that may create uncertainty and tension between library technicians and librarians as these responsibilities sometimes overlap. It is important that library technicians have a positive professional identity and healthy working relationship with the librarians. This session will examine some of the ways that the library technician’s role is changing.
In whom we trust? A framework for understanding the moral agency in organizational trust
(2016) Saghafian, Marzieh; Shadnam, Masoud
Among the wide variety of morally charged concepts, trust has probably received the most scholarly attention in organization studies of the recent decades. The most recent development in this growing literature focuses on the role of the agency of involved actors in processes of trust creation, maintenance, and repair. This paper aims to contribute to this conversation through examining the role of the trustee's moral agency. Drawing on the Emirbayer and Mische's (1998) temporal framework of agency, we discuss how each temporal dimension of agency — iterative, projective, and practical-evaluative — forms a different basis for trusting an organization. We also formulate a number of propositions to specify the circumstances under which each dimension of moral agency becomes salient in generating perceptions of trustworthiness. We conclude by discussing how the primary basis of trust-based decision making may change as a function of contextual factors such as the history of the relationship, the degree of stability of the environment, and the balance of power between the trustor and the trustee.

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