Conflict handling styles as predictors of entrepreneurial intentions

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the relationship between conflict handling styles (CHS) of business managers in their entrepreneurial intentions (EI). The business manager’s propensity to become entrepreneurs is a relatively unexplored area of research. The relationship between conflict handling style and entrepreneurial intention is under-researched, particularly in a developing country like Kosovo. Design/methodology/approach A self-report questionnaire containing measures of conflict handing style, entrepreneurial intention and demographics was delivered to business managers in Kosovo. Findings Forcing style has a positive and statistically significant relationship with entrepreneurial intention. Yielding, compromising, problem solving and avoiding have weak and insignificant effects on EI. Research limitations/implications The relationship between conflict handling styles of managers and their entrepreneurial intention is investigated. No situational, organizational or environmental factor was considered influencing this relationship. Practical implications Conflict management is important in predicting the entrepreneurial intention of managers. Organizations should design human resource interventions aimed at effective team composition and employee retention to ensure performance. Originality/value This is the first study to investigate the relationship between conflict handling style and entrepreneurial intention using a manager sample. Furthermore, it is the first study of conflict handling styles and entrepreneurial intention of managers in Kosovo.

Personality Aging Pattern (PAP): An Empirical Study on Personality Traits in Relation with Work Force Age Bands

As human resource interventions are more of subjective nature, Human Resource Analytics gives a metric system and a rational dimension. The author heads to establish a pattern for Personality change among work force as against Aging under three workforce age bands using BiG five Personality Inventory. The finding shows that all the five factors of personality take different patterns along the life span. Human Resource interventions may be designed and executed for the functions viz., hiring, appraisal, development and retention of workforce in any type of organization in the sublime of Personality Aging Pattern (PAP).

Developing high performance working through case study evidence

Purpose This paper aims to theoretically proffer and empirically evidence five inter-related high performance working (HPW) groupings of value to practitioners interested in developing HPW in their organizations. Design/methodology/approach The empirical research is based on three UK-based qualitative case studies. Data are drawn from nine in-depth interviews with managers (three from each case) and three subsequent focus groups (one in each case). Focus groups comprised six, eight, and four employee (non-manager) interviewees. Findings The empirical findings validate the theoretical importance of the five identified HPW groupings. More, they imply a number of relationships within and between the five groupings, confirming the need to view the groupings collectively and dynamically. Originality/value The five HPW groupings provide a foundation for further research to closely evaluate the dynamism within and across the groupings. They also offer practical types of human resource interventions and actions for practitioners to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of HPW in their organizations.

Impact of human resource interventions on work-life balance: a study on Indian IT sector

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the significant predictors of work-life balance (WLB) by highlighting the human resource interventions in IT industries. Design/methodology/approach Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis have been used to analyse the data by using the SPSS version 20. Primary data have been incorporated from 245 software professionals through a structured questionnaire from the IT industry in India. Findings The study examines nine independent variables that significantly envisage the dependent variables (WLB), among them only three factors are extracted such as training and development, teamwork and communication, and financial and non-financial rewards which were found to be significant predictors of WLB. The hypothesis as suggested for the study has been significant. Research limitations/implications This paper provides a practical interpretation about an overview of human resource interventions vital for better WLB in software organisations. It also provides insights to practitioners, IT managers and administrators for instigating these interventions. Practical implications The achievement of WLB is a delightful indulgence for professionals as well as organisations. It becomes indispensable for top management to focus on HR interventions for stimulating the degree of WLB. The study empirically categorizes the various interventions pivotal to improve the degree of WLB in the IT sector. Originality/value As there has been substantial research evidence exploring the work-life imbalance, its cause, effects and overcoming it through a balanced life is studied. This study has identified innovative insight of embracing employees and thriving commitment among employees through HR interventions which acts as a strong predictor for WLB. There are limited empirical traces in the Indian IT sector investigating the above context.

Measuring the effects of role efficacy enhancement on knowledge workers

Purpose – Knowledge workers (KWs) in information technology (IT) sector have become one of the key drivers for strategic competitiveness as they contribute toward an organization’s performance. In this context, the role of knowledge workers, who work on deputation to client side, is even more critical as they contribute directly to the revenue inflows. The purpose of this paper is to explore their role efficacy (RE) and organizational role stress dimensions, which have been affecting their performance and organization effectiveness. The study further explored the relationship between RE and role stress dimensions. Two distinct samples were identified, one where Indian KWs working in Indian company and Indian KWs working in foreign firm, where they have been discharging client facing technical roles. Design/methodology/approach – A primary study has been conducted choosing questionnaire survey and telephonic interviews. A questionnaire was designed in such a manner so that the authors can extract the required information from the respondents about various dimensions of RE. This instrument was used to test the conceptual model of RE. Overall 50+ responses were obtained from IT companies in each of the two selected categories. Findings – The results have shown that role expectation conflict and role isolation are the two major dimensions contributing to role stress for the selected sample, while centrality and integration have contributed to overall role efficacy for both the categories. Human resource interventions were suggested to enhance their RE and reduce their role stress. Originality/value – This study made an attempt to investigate the relationship between RE and role stress dimensions of the KWs which has not been attempted in any previous published literature.

HR interventions and quality of work life of healthcare employees: an investigation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the predictors of perceived quality of work life (QWL) by accentuating on human resource interventions in healthcare units. Design/methodology/approach – Primary data were accumulated from 158 health care employees through a structured questionnaire from healthcare organisations in India. Statistical analysis was done using tools like factor analysis and multiple regression analysis by using SPSS (version 20). Findings – A total of 18 independent variables was used in the study, only four factors were extracted specifically work life balance, communication, teamwork and empowerment were found to be significant predictors of perceived QWL. The proposed hypotheses for this study are significant. Research limitations/implications – This work provides a pragmatic view about the compendium of human resource interventions pivotal for better QWL in healthcare organisations. The survey also offers insights to healthcare managers, administrators and practitioners for implementing these interventions. Originality/value – This work clearly reflects on the relationship of HR intervention and QWL in the new context of health care.

Work Engagement, Intrinsic Motivation and Job Satisfaction among Employees of a Diamond Mining Company in Zimbabwe

This paper seeks to establish the relationships between three job characteristics constructs, namely work engagement, intrinsic motivation and job satisfaction in a workplace notorious for discord and conflict between workers and employers. A quantitative methodology was adopted using a crosssectional survey. Respondents were selected from the workers at a mining company, with a final sample of 156 employees participating in the study. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Intrinsic Motivation Inventory and the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire were used to collect data. The results of the study indicate positive relationships between job satisfaction, work engagement and intrinsic motivation among the workers. Age and marital status were found to be significant contributors to workers’ job satisfaction, intrinsic motivation and work engagement. Implications of these results are that human resource interventions are required in order to deal with enhancing work engagement, intrinsic motivation and job satisfaction. Furthermore, the results indicate that intrinsic motivation and work engagement can enhance job satisfaction. The current study adds to the research pointing at job satisfaction as a promising underlying mechanism for employees’ to be internally motivated and engaged at work.

Evaluating human resource interventions

Orientation: Programme evaluation is a transdiscipline, which examines whether a programme has merit or not. A programme is a coherent set of activities aimed at bringing about a change in people or their circumstances.Research purpose: The purpose of this special edition is to introduce readers to the evaluation of human resource (HR) programmes.Motivation for the study: There are few comprehensive evaluations of HR programmes despite many publications on functional efficiency measures of HR (i.e. measures of cost, time, quantity, error and quality).Research design, approach and method: This article provides a value chain for HR activities and introduces the reader to programme theory-driven evaluation.Main findings: In summarising all of the contributions in this edition, one of the main findings was the lack of programme evaluation experience within HR functions and the difficulty this posed for the evaluators.Practical/managerial implications: This introductory article presents answers to two simple questions: What does HR do? and, What is programme evaluation? These answers will enable practitioners to understand what programme evaluators mean when we say that programme evaluation seeks to determine the merit of a programme.Contribution/value-add: The main contribution of this introductory article is to set the scene for the HR evaluations that follow. It alerts the reader to the rich theory contribution in HR literature and how to apply this in a theory-driven evaluation.

Employer Perspectives on Hiring and Accommodating Youth in Transition

Work-based experiences are critical educational adjuncts for the career development of youth with disabilities. Such experiences are dependent on willing and available employers. This article examines effective workplace supports and accommodations and relates them to employer perspectives of bringing youth with disabilities into the workplace. Employment supports, including assistive technology, that may be required by youth with disabilities are also examined in relation to typical internal company human resource management practices. A review of the literature and two case study illustrations strongly suggest that employer attitudes toward disability are less significant when deciding to bring youth into the workplace than are other factors, notably the identification of workplace supports, accommodations, and interventions that also contribute to improvement of companies' operational and organizational processes. Combining special education and disability employment interventions with typical company human resource interventions can facilitate the achievement of a more accessible workplace for youth with disabilities. Implications for education and transition programs are discussed.