Improving service employee work affect: the transformative potential of work design

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven W. Rayburn
Keyword(s):  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Work Design ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Specific Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Work Affect ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to employ Self-Determination Theory to explain the mediated impact of work design – empowerment and serial and investiture socialization – on employee work affect. The theory proposes fulfilment of three psychological needs – autonomy, competence, and relatedness – will mediate individuals' ability to achieve contextually relevant well-being. An empirical study tests this claim and exposes the structure of the mediating effects. Design/methodology/approach – Survey responses were collected from a sample of 239 front-line service employees using snowball data collection. SEM was used to test hypotheses. Findings – Findings suggest that empowerment and serial and investiture socialization are significantly differentially related to need fulfilment. Additionally, all forms of need fulfilment do not directly influence employee affect. Instead, there are both direct and interactive effects that work simultaneously to influence employees' positive work affect. Practical implications – This study exposes specific work design levers managers can manipulate to benefit employees. This research highlights the different effects of specific work design variables on employee work affect. Originality/value – This paper extends understanding of Self-Determination Theory by exposing the direct and interactive effects of need fulfilment on work affect for service workers. Also, it delivers a deeper exploration of the impact of work design on employees by modelling multiple work design variables as well as process variables simultaneously to provide a more detailed picture of how work design influences employee work affect.

Applying self-determination theory to explaining differences in career commitment between self-employed and salaried employees

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 593-619
Author(s):  
Martin Mabunda Baluku ◽  
Richard Balikoowa ◽  
Edward Bantu ◽  
Kathleen Otto
Keyword(s):  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Current Form ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Salaried Employment ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Based on self-determination theory, this study aims to examine the impact of satisfaction of basic psychological needs (BPNs) on the commitment to stay self- or salary-employed. Not only the entry of individuals but also their commitment to remain self-employed is important. Enterprises established by the self-employed can only survive longer if the owners are willing to continue in self-employment. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted among a cross-country sample drawn from Germany, Kenya and Uganda. An online survey was conducted among self- and salary-employed individuals in Germany. In Uganda and Kenya, cross-sectional samples were recruited through their workplaces and business forums. These processes yielded 869 responses (373 self-employed and 494 salary-employed). Differences in the impact of BPNs on the commitment to self-employed or salaried-employment across countries were examined using PROCESS macro 2.16. Findings The findings revealed that the self-employed exhibit higher commitment to their current form of employment than the salary-employed. The satisfaction of needs for autonomy and competence were associated with higher levels of commitment to self-employment than to salary-employment across the three countries. The need for relatedness was also strongly associated with commitment to self-employment much more than to salary-employment for Ugandan and Kenyan participants; but not for the German participants. Originality/value Persistence in self-employment is essential not only for individuals to remain employed but also as a pathway to achieving career success. However, research has paid limited attention to persistence in self-employment. This research contributes to the understanding of antecedents for commitment to self-employment across countries, and therefore what should be done to enable particularly young individuals to stay self-employed. Moreover, the study also examines whether these antecedents have similar effects among individuals in salaried-employment.

scholarly journals School engagement as a mediator in students’ social relationships and academic performance: a survey based on CiteSpace

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Li ◽  
Leiju Qiu ◽  
Baowen Sun
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
School Engagement ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Research Trend ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose In studies related to education, sociology and economics, the relationship between students’ social relationships and their academic performance is one of the most important research topics; a large number of research studies have focused on it. This study aims to analyze the previous studies about social interaction and academic performance and attempts to reveal the underlying mechanism. Design/methodology/approach This study uses CiteSpace to analyze 1,843 articles on social relationships and academic performance from 2001 to 2019. According to the co-cited literature network results in CiteSpace, this study proposes an adapted conceptual framework of the relationship between social relationships and academic performance. This paper further examines more studies about the two most-cited articles in the co-cited literature network for better understanding. Findings From the results of the co-cited literature network, this study determines that school engagement is an important mediator between social relationships and academic performance. This paper further examines studies on school engagement and determine that, along with the self-determination theory, school engagement is influenced by multiple components of self-determination theory: autonomy, competence and relatedness. Originality/value According to the visual result in CiteSpace, this study examines a research trend in which researchers scholars start to conduct micro and detailed empirical research on the impact of the specific social networks on academic performance because of the progress of information technology. Therefore, based on the previous literature that we have analyzed, this study predicts that the trend of using information technology, such as data mining or data analysis, in this academic field will become a mainstream practice in the future.

scholarly journals Is self-determination good for your effectiveness? A study of factors which influence performance within self-determination theory

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0256558
Author(s):  
Michał Szulawski ◽  
Izabela Kaźmierczak ◽  
Monika Prusik
Keyword(s):  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
External Incentives ◽  
The Impact

Despite the vast body of studies within self-determination theory, the impact of factors which influence performance in experimental paradigm is still underresearched. The aim of the two studies presented in this paper was to investigate the impact of basic psychological needs on performance with the simultaneous presence of external incentives. Study 1 tested whether the satisfaction of competence and relatedness during task performance (while external incentives were present) can impact individual’s performance. Study 2, on the other hand, investigated whether the basic psychological needs and provision of external incentives can impact an individual’s performance. Moreover, in both studies the mechanisms behind the need–performance relationship was checked. Our results showed that out of the three basic needs, competence had the strongest positive impact on performance, which was partially mediated by the subjective evaluation of the levels of difficulty and intrinsic motivation. The weak relationship between relatedness and task performance was fully mediated by the level of intrinsic motivation.

scholarly journals Experiences of Honours Research Students and Supervisors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study Framed by Self-Determination Theory

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha N. Kumar ◽  
Elizabeth Summerell ◽  
Branka Spehar ◽  
Jacquelyn Cranney
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
Research Students ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

This study evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in a sample of Honours students (n = 21) and Honours supervisors (n = 41) at a major Australian university. Data were collected from voluntary, online, anonymous surveys, which included ratings of the pandemic’s impact on their 1) experience of Honours research activities, and 2) sense of relatedness, competence, autonomy, and wellbeing. Self-determination theory (SDT), which posits that the psychological needs of relatedness, competence, and autonomy lead to a sense of wellbeing, provided a theoretical framework for understanding student and supervisor experience during the pandemic. Both students and supervisors indicated significant impact of the pandemic on the students’ research projects, and the degree of perceived impact did not differ between students and supervisors. There was no relationship between the severity of impact and student or supervisor wellbeing. Student wellbeing was low, but the hypotheses that student SDT needs would not be met were only partly supported. Overall, the extent to which Honours students’ SDT needs were met predicted wellbeing; the outcome was similar for supervisors. Our hypothesis that SDT needs and wellbeing would be higher for supervisors than for students was supported. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed, including recommendations for Honours programs as we move through the current pandemic.

The impact of motivation on customer satisfaction formation: a self-determination perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 1923-1940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher White
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to examine the way different motivational types from Self-Determination Theory (SDT) influence antecedents of customer satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach – The findings in this study were generated with a quantitative design using path analysis on data collected at two stages during an extended service encounter. Findings – Each motivation type played a unique and important role in influencing the antecedents of satisfaction, namely, positive and negative emotions and perceptions of service quality. As hypothesised, motives associated with higher levels of autonomy were consistently stronger predictors of positive emotions and service quality. The influence of motives on the antecedents did not change significantly over time, whereas significant differences were noted between all antecedents and satisfaction. The model explained 54 and 63 per cent of the variance in satisfaction in times one and two, respectively. Originality/value – This is the first time that motivation as conceptualised from an SDT perspective has been applied to understanding the dynamic nature of customer satisfaction. The findings offer considerable opportunities for follow-up studies and the motivation types can provide practitioners with a stable and efficient segmentation option.

Interactive Effects of Team Virtuality and Work Design on Team Functioning

2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Handke ◽  
Florian E. Klonek ◽  
Sharon K. Parker ◽  
Simone Kauffeld
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Teams ◽  
Task Complexity ◽  
Virtual Work ◽  
Team Work ◽  
Work Design ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Team Functioning ◽  
The Impact

This review study aimed to investigate how team work design shapes the impact of team virtuality on team functioning. Based on 48 studies, we identified key work design variables that influence both team functioning, that is, team performance and intermediary outcomes (i.e., team processes and emergent states), under conditions of high virtuality (or in interaction with virtuality). First, while outcome interdependence showed positive effects on the functioning of virtual teams, particularly via motivational increases, task interdependence showed mixed results. Second, high levels of knowledge characteristics (e.g., task complexity) appear to worsen team functioning within virtual contexts, likely because these characteristics add to the demands of an already demanding context. Third, job resources (e.g., feedback) showed positive associations with team functioning, suggesting these variables might buffer the high demands of virtual work. Given these results, more investigations that explicitly examine the interaction between work design and team virtuality are needed.

scholarly journals Motivating workers: how leaders apply self-determination theory in organizations

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivien W. Forner ◽  
Michael Jones ◽  
Yoke Berry ◽  
Joakim Eidenfalk
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Employee Motivation ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Self-determination theory (SDT), offers a theoretical framework for enhancing employee motivation and stimulating positive outcomes such as commitment, well-being and engagement, in organizations. This paper aims to investigate the application of SDT among leaders and delineate practical managerial approaches for supporting basic psychological needs in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach Participants were 51 leaders who had personally applied SDT with their own followers. Data were collected via free-listing method and analysed to extrapolate examples of SDT-application that are both practically salient and aligned to theoretic tenets of SDT. Findings The findings reveal how SDT is operationalized by leaders to support basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness in the workplace. The SDT-informed management strategies are discussed in relation to the literature and alongside case scenarios to illustrate approaches for integrating elements of SDT into day-to-day management activities. Originality/value Despite extensive literature support for SDT, very little empirical attention has been paid to examining how the theory is applied, interpreted and/or used by practitioners in real world settings. This research is the first to draw on the lived-experience of practitioners who have applied SDT, contributes previously unexplored strategies for supporting workers’ basic psychological needs and responds to calls for SDT research to identify a broader range of managerial behaviours that support employee motivation.

Role of organizational environment in sustained organizational economic performance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qadar Bakhsh Baloch ◽  
Sourath Maher ◽  
Nadeem Iqbal ◽  
Syed Naseeb Shah ◽  
Muhammad Sheeraz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Leadership Capacity ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Organizational Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeTherefore, this research study investigates the impact of business environment on the performance of the business organizations. (1) To understand the importance the environment in the success of the business entrepreneurship. (2) To explore the environmental factors that can affect the success of business entrepreneurship in Pakistan. (3) To establish relationship between the environmental factors and the sustained organizational performance of business entrepreneurships in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachDrawing from the person–environment fit (PE fit) and the self-determination theory literature, this survey research study seeks to determine the impact of organizational environment upon sustained organizational economic performance. The main independent variable of the study encompasses its main three dimensions, i.e. leadership capacity, organizational culture and organizational politics. The dependent variable comprises the sustained economic performance of the organization. The research study hypothesized and tested a model in which the organizational environment (organizational culture, organizational politics and leadership) interplays with the organizational sustained performance.FindingsKeeping in view the outcomes of this research work the following implications can be drawn. A leader can yield maximum productivity of employees, if he/she has leadership capacity to provide directions, skilled to minimize the stress level of the employees and able to motivate them in achieving organizational goals. Therefore, capacity of leader to handle difficult situations and develop PE fit is the key to organizational success in current scenario. The study also revealed a positive effect of organizational culture on organizational performance. The culture of the organizations provides an environment of openness to think, share and contribute toward goals of the organization. It enables employees to express themselves, develop person-organization common goals with self-determination. The PE fit provides a platform to feel free, express their feelings and opinions, and contribute in the decision-making process of organizations. The involvement in organizational activities provide a sense of responsibility, ownership and motivation to produce better results for the organizations.Originality/valuePE fit perspective postulates that matching individual psychological needs and environmental supplies (provided by organization and society) generates positive attitudes and behaviors (Tepper et al., 2018). The effect between individuals and their environment is inherently reciprocal rather than a one-way effect (Goetz et al., 2021). The fundamental postulation support that the fit certainly improves performance, commitment and satisfaction of individuals in the context of organizations (De Cooman et al., 2019; Rau vola et al., 2020). Moreover, self-determination theory (SDT) is another perspective that emphasizes the attainment of autonomy, competence and relatedness in employees to outperform (Deci and Ryan, (2010). The self-determination theory revolves around the social-contextual conditions that support or obstruct the integral courses of self-motivation and psychological development, which will contribute toward organizational performance (Nazir et al., 2021).

Understanding and influencing eco-luxury consumers

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 780-800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Gibson ◽  
Silvia Seibold
Keyword(s):  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Luxury Brands ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Qualitative Empirical Research

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explain how the role of marketing for luxury brands can be re-thought in order to ensure that such brands establish a strong connection between their luxury image and positive social and environmental values. Design/methodology/approach – The findings are based upon qualitative empirical research which informed a new categorisation of consumer motivations, through the application of self-determination theory which shows how concerns for environmental and social sustainability can be integrated with individual psychological needs. Findings – The findings provide a deep understanding of consumers of luxury-eco products which could be used by marketing practitioners to shape socially responsible purchasing decisions. Research limitations/implications – The research was designed for theory building, not theory-testing, so future research would be needed to study the efficacy of the recommended strategies for encouraging eco-luxury behaviour. Practical implications – To increase the likelihood of practical applications, the authors follow the presentation of their findings with suggestions and examples for marketing to each of the consumer types identified by their research. Social implications – The findings of this research have implications of a global, environmental and social kind. The societal adoption of eco-luxury consumption is about educating consumer desire, shifting it from its current focus on personal satisfaction, to a higher level of personal and social flourishing. Originality/value – The findings effectively support the claims of self-determination theory by demonstrating how and why consumer motivations differ and how an improved sense of well-being can be achieved through internalised levels of self-determination.

How High-Performance HR Practices and LMX Affect Employee Engagement and Creativity in Hospitality

2021 ◽  
pp. 109634802199680
Author(s):  
Jie He ◽  
Alastair M. Morrison ◽  
Hao Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Employee Engagement ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Psychological Empowerment ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Valuable Contribution ◽  
Hr Practices ◽  
Member Exchange ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this article is to explore how the interactive effects of high-performance human resource (HR) practices and leader–member exchange (LMX) on employee engagement and creativity in hospitality. Based on the survey of 485 employees of hotel companies in China, the theoretical model was tested. The results showed that high-performance HR practices had a significant influence on employee engagement and creativity through psychological empowerment. In addition, the impact of high-performance HR practices on employee engagement was strengthened by LMX. This theoretical framework was empirically tested to better explain the motivational mechanisms underlying employee engagement and creativity and makes a valuable contribution to advancing the application of self-determination theory in hospitality.

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