Jaithen Abdullah Al Harbi, Saud Alarifi and Aissa Mosbah
The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the effect of transformational leadership on followers’ inventiveness and organizational innovation. It studies…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the effect of transformational leadership on followers’ inventiveness and organizational innovation. It studies transformational leadership and innovation at the organizational level and creativity at the individual level.
Design/methodology/approach
A theoretical model was created, which entailed the development of variables and hypotheses. A survey instrument was used to obtain data, through a self-completion questionnaire. The final sample was made up of 503 individuals, recruited using a random sampling technique.
Findings
The results showed that transformational leadership has a significant positive relationship with both followers’ creativity and organizational innovation. Furthermore, a significant positive relationship was found between followers’ creativity and organizational innovation. In addition, the relationship between transformational leadership and followers’ creativity, through the mediating role of employees’ psychological empowerment, support for innovation, workplace relationships and employee learning, was also found to be both positive and significant. However, the data showed that intrinsic motivation does not significantly affect the relationship between transformational leadership and creativity.
Practical implications
The study provides guidance to organizations that need to change their leadership style and approach, as well as their innovation and creativity mechanisms, at a strategic level. The resulting guidance provides organizations with insight into how they can improve the creativity of their employees through motivating, supporting and inspiring them.
Originality/value
This study is an attempt to illustrate the extent to which transformational leadership can affect organizational innovation in Saudi Arabia, specifically in the public sector, and to explore how employees’ creativity can be improved. This research is beneficial for academics, organizations and policy makers, especially in the Gulf countries.
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Rebecca E. Gewurtz, Karen Harlos, Emile Tompa, Margaret Oldfield, Rosemary Lysaght, Sandra Moll, Bonnie Kirsh, Hélène Sultan-Taïeb, Katie Cook and Sergio Rueda
Although awareness is growing of the importance of employee mental health and the value of inclusive work practices, less is known about how to support employees with mental…
Abstract
Purpose
Although awareness is growing of the importance of employee mental health and the value of inclusive work practices, less is known about how to support employees with mental illness (MI). We aimed to explore organizational strategies and work practices that promote retention and support of employees living with MI in relation to past theory-driven research by building and extending current theory.
Design/methodology/approach
We adopted a qualitative case-study approach focussed on organizations that have taken steps towards promoting workplace inclusion for employees with MI. Five diverse Canadian organizations were recruited based on their efforts to build psychologically safe and healthy workplaces, and actively support employees with MI. Data collection in each organization consisted of onsite observation and interviews with workplace stakeholders, including employees with MI, their co-workers, supervisors/managers and human resource professionals. Thirty interviews were conducted from across the five organizations. Data analysis was informed by interpretive description to identify challenges and opportunities.
Findings
Two key themes were noted in depictions of supportive workplaces: (1) relationship-focussed workplaces and (2) flexible, inclusive work practices.
Originality/value
These practices highlight how organizations support employees with MI. Despite our focus on organizations working towards inclusion, the stigma associated with MI and the rigidity of some workplace processes continue to limit support and retention. Our findings suggest that organizations should focus on communication processes, support mechanisms, how they reinforce flexibility, inclusion and oversight of employees with MI.
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This chapter explores what managers in the library and information science workplace can do to keep stress and burnout levels low. The literature on stress and burnout in human…
Abstract
This chapter explores what managers in the library and information science workplace can do to keep stress and burnout levels low. The literature on stress and burnout in human services, or the helping professions, is surveyed and the differences between the two phenomena are explained. Research is clear that keeping stress levels low and burnout at bay in the workplace benefits both employees and the organization. Even so, managers are given little training on how to identify and deal with stress and often fail to notice that their employees are chronically stressed. When managers become aware that they do have employees who are seriously stressed or burned out, they are often unsure whether they should address the problem and how to handle it. The author explains the differences between stress and burnout and clarifies how managers can minimize their negative impact by monitoring six areas in which workers are most likely to experience them: (1) the demands of the job which include the quantity of work and the knowledge required to perform; (2) the amount of control employees are permitted to exercise in the workplace; (3) the amount of the social support employee’s feel they have from managers and colleagues; (4) the quality of workplace relationships; (5) the clarity of one’s role on the job; and (6) support and honest communication during times of change. The practical implication of this information aimed at managers is to help them create a better workplace and mentally and physically healthier staff members.
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Philip S. Rose, Stephen T.T. Teo, Diep Nguyen and Nguyen Phong Nguyen
Internships are utilized globally to recruit graduate employees. However, there is a limited understanding of the process by which interns convert into regular employees…
Abstract
Purpose
Internships are utilized globally to recruit graduate employees. However, there is a limited understanding of the process by which interns convert into regular employees, particularly in non-Western research contexts. Integrating attraction–selection–attrition (ASA) theory and proactive career behaviors, this study identifies the mechanisms influencing interns' intentions to convert into regular employment in host organizations in Vietnam.
Design/methodology/approach
Time lagged, questionnaire data were collected from 669 final-year undergraduate business and economics students who participated in internship programs in a large metropolitan city in Vietnam.
Findings
The results indicate that the interns who exhibit proactive career behaviors are more likely to foster high-quality reciprocal relationships with their supervisors and work colleagues during internships. These positive relations magnify interns' intentions to become regular employees via their perceived person–organization fit.
Practical implications
This study has implications for higher education institutions and host organizations when designing internship programs to maximize employment outcomes via conversion of interns into regular employees.
Originality/value
Previous studies have not tested the critical aspect of ASA theory regarding the personalities of the interns when building work-related relationships that result in the person–organization fit before accepting job offers from host organizations.
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Matthew J. Xerri, Silvia A. Nelson, Yvonne Brunetto and Stuart R.M. Reid
Effective engineering asset management is essential in delivering public services safely whilst avoiding breakdowns and accidents. The purpose of this paper is to ensure asset…
Abstract
Purpose
Effective engineering asset management is essential in delivering public services safely whilst avoiding breakdowns and accidents. The purpose of this paper is to ensure asset safety and sustainability, public sector firms have to adopt new processes and practices. It is the role of supervisors to implement the changes, and as part of the new public management (NPM) public sector reforms, public sector asset managers have more discretionary power to implement further changes related to increased accountability.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper explores the impact of management practices on supervisor-employee relationships and employees’ perception of autonomy, employees’ attitudes towards change and their perceptions of organisational culture within Australian public sector engineering asset management organisations, and in the context of NPM reforms and consequent changes in supervisory discretionary power. Social exchange theory provided the theoretical framework and a self-report survey was administered to 149 employees.
Findings
The findings from a structural equation model indicate positive and significant relationships between the variables in this study. A finding of significant interest was that public sector employees are on average slightly dissatisfied with their supervisors and feel they have a minimal amount of autonomy in the workplace. This may represent an unintended consequence of NPM reforms.
Research limitations/implications
The implication of the findings is that an effective relationship between supervisors and employees is a necessary ingredient for achieving change, and ensuring asset safety and sustainability. Social exchange theorists argue that the low level of satisfaction with the supervisors evident in this study is one factor compromising asset safety and sustainability.
Originality/value
The roadblocks to good supervisory relationships in the post NPM environment must be dismantled and the findings clearly indicate a need for targeted development of supervisors/management skills to ameliorate the negative effects of the NPM regime and enable effective change management.
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Michael J. Tews, Ankie Hoefnagels, Phillip M. Jolly and Kathryn Stafford
As a step toward more firmly establishing factors to promote retention among younger employees in the hospitality industry, this study aims to focuses on fun in the workplace (fun…
Abstract
Purpose
As a step toward more firmly establishing factors to promote retention among younger employees in the hospitality industry, this study aims to focuses on fun in the workplace (fun activities, manager support for fun and coworker socializing) and training climate (organizational support, manager support and job support) as potential antecedents of turnover in a European context.
Design/methodology/approach
Logistic regression was used to analyze the impact of fun and training climate on turnover with a sample of 902 employees from Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. Data on fun and training climate were obtained through surveys, which were paired with turnover data from organizational records.
Findings
With respect to fun in the workplace, group-level manager support for fun and coworker socializing were significantly related to turnover, but not fun activities. With respect to training climate, individual-level job support was significantly related to turnover, but not organizational support and manager support.
Research limitations/implications
As the data were obtained from employees from one organization, further research would be valuable with additional samples to substantiate the generalizability of the results.
Practical implications
Given the challenge of turnover, organizations should foster informal aspects of fun in the workplace and learning opportunities to promote retention.
Originality/value
The study examined the fun–turnover relationship in a context outside of the USA where previous fun–turnover research has been conducted, and it examined fun relative to training climate, which has not been studied heretofore. This study also investigated group- and individual-level effects of both fun and training climate on turnover.
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Elizabeth Hutton, Jason Skues and Lisa Wise
This study aims to use the dual-continuum model of mental health to explore mental health in Australian construction apprentices from the perspective of key stakeholders in the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to use the dual-continuum model of mental health to explore mental health in Australian construction apprentices from the perspective of key stakeholders in the apprenticeship model. In particular, this study explored how construction apprentices, Vocational Education and Training (VET) teachers, industry employers and mental health workers understood the construct of mental health, factors associated with the dimension of psychological distress/symptoms of mental illness, and factors associated with the dimension of mental wellbeing.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used an exploratory qualitative research design. Data from 36 semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Participants comprised 19 Australian construction apprentices, 5 VET teachers, 7 industry employers and 5 mental health workers.
Findings
In total, 14 themes were generated from the data set. Participants across stakeholder groups reported a limited understanding about mental health. Participants cited a range of negative personal, workplace and industry factors associated with psychological distress/symptoms of mental illness, but only reported a few factors associated with mental wellbeing.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to use the dual-continuum model of mental health to explore the mental health of Australian construction apprentices, and to explore the factors associated with both dimensions of this model from the perspective of key stakeholders in the Australian construction apprenticeship model.
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This study aims to increase the understanding about the concept of high-quality connections (HQCs) by examining how it develops between members of different generations.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to increase the understanding about the concept of high-quality connections (HQCs) by examining how it develops between members of different generations.
Design/methodology/approach
It draws on film-based method to explain how the theory of HQC unfolds, particularly in a context of high intergenerational connection.
Findings
This study reflects the analysis of a movie that, to a large extent, fits in the HQCs conceptual framework. Rather, all key mechanisms of HQCs concept (i.e. behavioral, cognitive and emotional) were found in the plot of Die Hard 4.0. It provides compelling evidence that films may explore the possibilities of reality including the nuances of the relationships among human beings, despite the fact that it portrays a fictional creation. In doing so, it shows that HQCs are likely to be found – as very often happens in the real life – even in the worst situations. Findings also show that HQCs may be built through the time as individuals start to better know each other, i.e. their styles, behavior, religion preferences, held values, capabilities and interpersonal skills.
Research limitations/implications
Otherwise, film method does not allow that the research results be generalized. At best, it offers elements to the viewers reflect about.
Practical implications
Very often individuals are designated to carry out certain tasks along with unknown colleagues with whom they need to interact in a positive manner to accomplish the goals. As a result, organizations should pay close attention to the quality of connections among their employees.
Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first endeavor toward analyzing the mechanisms of HQCs concept by means of such approach. In doing so, this analysis strongly corroborates HQCs concept functioning.
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Genta Kulari, Tito Laneiro, Luísa Ribeiro, Michael P. Leiter and Maura Stephanie Fernandes dos Santos
This study aims to propose a model to examine the relationship between authentic leadership (AL), civility and burnout among health-care employees. This model proposes that…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to propose a model to examine the relationship between authentic leadership (AL), civility and burnout among health-care employees. This model proposes that civility mediates the relationship between AL and burnout.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 360 (72% response rate) registered health-care employees working in two large public hospital centers in Lisbon, Portugal. The sample was predominantly female (79.4%). The instruments used to measure the variables were the AL inventory, workplace civility scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey. Hayes’ PROCESS macro for mediation analysis in SPSS was used to test the hypothesized model.
Findings
The results suggest that AL has a positive direct effect on civility, adding to the negative effect of the aforementioned variables on burnout. Furthermore, civility was found to have a mediating effect on AL and burnout.
Research limitations/implications
This study may be useful for hospital management and the health-care sector as a whole, underlining the importance of AL and civility in preventing detrimental effects of burnout among health-care employees.
Originality/value
Considering that mainstream literature on AL mainly focuses on nurses, there is a scarcity of literature integrating the relationship between AL, civility and burnout among a wide range of occupational groups in the health-care sector. Furthermore, the research model has not been previously introduced when considering the mediating role of civility in the relationship between AL and burnout.
Propósito
Este estudio propone un modelo para examinar la relación entre el liderazgo auténtico, la civilidad y el burnout entre los trabajadores de la salud. Este modelo plantea que la civilidad media la relación entre el liderazgo auténtico y el burnout.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Se recopilaron datos de 360 trabajadores de salud registrados (tasa de respuesta del 72%) que trabajan en dos grandes centros hospitalarios públicos en Lisboa, Portugal. La muestra fue predominantemente femenina (79,4%). Los instrumentos utilizados para medir las variables fueron el Inventario de Liderazgo Auténtico, la Escala de Civilidad de Trabajo y el Inventario de Burnout de Maslach. Se utilizó el macroproceso de Hayes para el análisis de mediación en SPSS para probar el modelo hipotetizado.
Conclusiones
Los resultados sugieren que el liderazgo auténtico tiene un efecto directo positivo en la civilidad, sumándose al efecto negativo de las variables mencionadas anteriormente en el burnout. Además, se encontró que la civilidad tiene un efecto mediador en el liderazgo auténtico y el burnout.
Implicaciones
Este estudio puede ser útil para la gestión hospitalaria y el sector de la salud en su conjunto, destacando la importancia del liderazgo auténtico y la civilidad para prevenir los efectos perjudiciales del burnout entre los trabajadores de la salud.
Originalidad/valor
Dado que la literatura predominante sobre el liderazgo auténtico se centra principalmente en las enfermeras, existe una escasez de literatura que integre la relación entre el liderazgo auténtico, civilidad y el burnout en una amplia gama de grupos ocupacionales en el sector de la salud. Además, el modelo de investigación no se ha presentado previamente al considerar el papel mediador de la civilidad en la relación entre el liderazgo auténtico y el burnout.
Finalidade
O presente estudo propõe um modelo para análise da relação entre liderança autêntica, civilidade e burnout entre profissionais de saúde. O modelo propõe civilidade como mediadora na relação entre liderança autêntica e burnout.
Concepção/metodologia/abordagem
Os dados foram recolhidos de 360 (com taxa de resposta de 72%) funcionários registados do sistema de saúde em dois centros hospitalares de Lisboa, Portugal. A amostra foi predominantemente feminina (79,4%). Os instrumentos usados para medir as variáveis foram Authentic Leadership Inventory, Escala de Civilidade no Trabalho e Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey. O modelo proposto foi testado fazendo uso da macro Hayes PROCESS para análise de mediação no SPSS.
Conclusões
Os resultados sugerem que a liderança autêntica tem um efeito positivo direto na civilidade, além do efeito negativo no burnout. Adicionalmente, verificou-se um efeito mediador da variável civilidade nas variáveis liderança autêntica e burnout.
Implicações
Este estudo pode ser útil a administradores hospitalares e gestores no sector da saúde em geral, sublinhando a importância da liderança autêntica e civilidade na prevenção dos efeitos prejudiciais do burnout em profissionais de saúde.
Originalidade/valor
Considerando que a literatura prevalente sobre liderança autêntica foca maioritariamente enfermeiros, existe uma escassez de estudos que integram liderança autêntica, civilidade e burnout num amplo espetro de grupos profissionais no setor da saúde. Adicionalmente, o modelo de investigação considerando o papel mediador da civilidade na relação entre liderança autêntica e burnout não foi introduzido.
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The purpose of this article is to advance the understanding of expatriates' psychological attachment toward both their parent company and its foreign subsidiary by highlighting…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to advance the understanding of expatriates' psychological attachment toward both their parent company and its foreign subsidiary by highlighting how workplace friendships enhance the process of adjustment for expatriates and how these effects on adjustment subsequently translate into expatriates' dual commitment.
Design/methodology/approach
Hypotheses were tested using a sample of 187 expatriates, working in managerial positions, in subsidiaries of multinational corporations, all of whom were assigned expatriates. Serial multiple indirect effects were tested.
Findings
The results indicated that the relationship between workplace friendships and interaction adjustment was supported, but the relationship between workplace friendships and work adjustment was not supported. The serial indirect effects of international adjustment and work adjustment on the relationship between interaction adjustment and expatriates' dual commitment were supported.
Originality/value
This study seeks to fill a gap in the research literature on expatriates by focusing on the issue of workplace friendships and expatriates' dual commitment. The findings help bolster the literature on relational schemas in that expatriates' workplace friendships establish scripts for expatriates' expected outlines of adjustment in work domains. This study also provides insights relevant to the literature on social interaction and adjustment, as the findings support our theory that expatriate commitment is not directly contingent on workplace friendships but rather on the mediating roles of both interaction adjustment and work adjustment.