A South African university has obligations to societal stakeholders. One dimension of these obligations is research productivity. The extent to which these societal obligations can be met is a function of how innovative research outputs are, and of the extent to which constraints to research output, or productivity, are known, and can be managed. An extensive body of literature, including the Global Leadership and Organisational Behaviour Effectiveness (GLOBE) studies, have demonstrated the influence of organisational cultural values on organisational outcomes. Hofstede’s cultural values research studies have also demonstrated the influence of societal cultural values on societal outcomes. However, despite this body of literature, there is a lack of knowledge of the influence of organisational culture on the research productivity of academic fields. This research attempts to address this lack of knowledge through a qualitative and a quantitative study of the relationships between organisational culture and research productivity. This analysis is undertaken at the level of the academic field, which is proxied in this study as the level of the academic school. A corresponding analysis is also undertaken at the individual level. The relationship between individual values and research productivity is also investigated, to provide a holistic perspective of the relationships between both organisational cultural, as well as individual values, and research productivity, differentiated by level of analysis. On the basis of the qualitative analysis, a model of context-specific individual-level factors is also derived, which are predicted to influence research productivity. A qualitative study of research-productive academics from the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of Cape Town, the University of Johannesburg, the University of South Africa and the University of KwaZulu-Natal was used to develop theory for testing quantitatively. The quantitative study, which sampled the University of the Witwatersrand, was used to test the theory and the propositions that were developed in the qualitative portion of the study. In the quantitative study, at the level of the academic school, relationships between organisational cultural values and research productivity predicted by GLOBE organisational cultural values theory were tested quantitatively. At the individual level, relationships between individual motivational values theory and research productivity that were predicted by Schwartz’s values theory were also tested quantitatively. The model of factors that were predicted by the qualitative analysis to contribute to research productivity was also tested quantitatively. The iii qualitative and quantitative results of the study are taken to support Kuhn’s argument; that academic research outputs are not necessarily innovative, and do not necessarily represent innovative knowledge creation in this context. Findings also indicate that particular values configurations may constrain research productivity. Specifically, configurations of values associated with lower levels of innovativeness might constrain specific non-peer reviewed forms of research productivity. The results reveal a context dominated by a conflict between two societal needs, one associated with increasing enrolments of students that are not necessarily matched by infrastructure increases, or a process of massification, and the other associated with the need for more research productivity. The conflict between these two needs was found to correspond with differences between individuals that relate to the extent to which they derive their primary job satisfaction from research versus teaching. Teacher-satisfied individuals were found to be signficantly less research productive. On the basis of the research findings, recommendations are made to improve research productivity in this context. On the basis of these and other findings discussed in the main text of the thesis, recommendations for practice and for futher research are made. It is concluded that specific value configurations appear to constrain research productivity in this context and that individuals and the academic institutions for which they work need to take the potential effect of such value configurations into account in their management of research productivity.

The aim of this study was to develop a scale to measure group functioning in work groups. The scale was developed based on the Integrative Model of Group Development. There were 76 individuals who participated in the study. There were 15 groups that participated in this study. The sample was drawn from an organisation in Johannesburg. The research design was non-experimental and cross-sectional in nature. The data collected were analysed using factor analysis, Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient and discriminant analysis. The results showed that the overall scale had two subscales which showed strong reliabilities. The implications of the findings are that further research is needed to match stages of group development with the behaviour of individuals in organisations. The findings indicate that more research on group functioning in the South African work context is required.

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The purpose of this single site case study was to identify how four advising teams in a medium-sized public university adapt to the changes presented to them and what role leadership and culture play in that adaptation. This was accomplished through analysis of advisor and administrator interviews, office and meeting observations, and reviews of documents relating to advising and university changes in curriculum and systems. The study was guided by team culture and the five core adaptation strategies described by Eckel and Kezar (2003). The study indicates that although part of the same institution, each advising team has a unique culture and approach to doing their work. In turn each team has a different approach to their adaptation to the change that affects them. The study began with an examination of how and if the advising teams use the five core adaptation strategies described by Eckel and Kezar (2003). It was found that these adaptation strategies were not utilized because they require authority and the advisors do not have the organizational control necessary to use these strategies. However, the study revealed that the advising teams adapt to their environment through coping mechanisms depending on the type of adaptation. It was also found that the responses the advising teams have to particular change events depends on when they find out about the change as well as the culture and leadership of the teams. Consequently, their resilience to changes is a result of their ability to either absorb the change or alter their system quickly in reaction to the change. Implications are presented for universities and the advising teams in addition to recommendations for future study. / by Leigh A. McFarland. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

O crescimento do mercado de alimentos para animais de companhia devido à cultura de animais de estimação vem, consequentemente, aumentando a competitividade das empresas inseridas nesse nicho. Buscando atender às necessidades do consumidor que exigem produtos com qualidade e manter-se competitiva, as empresas fazem uso de ferramentas como o Sistema de Análise de Perigos e Ponto Crítico de Controle (Sistema APPCC). Assim, o presente estudo buscou investigar a motivação dos funcionários como fator de sucesso no processo de implantação de referido Sistema. A investigação deu-se mediante um estudo de caso em uma indústria de alimentos para animais domésticos, situada no interior de São Paulo, pela pesquisa exploratória com coleta de dados através da observação direta da pesquisadora combinada com a técnica de entrevista dirigida a funcionários direta ou indiretamente ligados à implantação do Sistema. A análise descritiva dos dados permitiu caracterizar os participantes, verificar possíveis correlações com o Modelo de Comportamento Humano de Robbins (2005) e os fatores de satisfação no trabalho, impactando ou não o absenteísmo, a rotatividade e a produtividade desses funcionários, com evidenciação da Teoria da Hierarquia das Necessidades de Maslow. Foi possível concluir que o comportamento humano em situações de trabalho está intimamente ligado com o atingimento de metas individuais que somadas colaboram com o alcance dos objetivos organizacionais. / The growth of the market of pet food due to culture of pets is increasing the competitiveness of the companies included in that niche. Seeking to meet the needs of consumers who demand quality products and to remain competitive, companies make use of tools such as the System of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP System). Thus, the present study sought to investigate the motivation of staff as a factor of success in the process of implementation of this system. The investigation came about through a case study in a food industry for domestic animals, located in the inner of São Paulo, using the exploratory research with data collection through direct observation of the researcher combined with the employee-driven interview technique directly or indirectly linked to the implementation of the system. The descriptive analysis of the data has allowed to characterize the participants, check possible correlations with the Model of Human Behavior of Robbins (2005) and the factors of job satisfaction, impacting or not the absenteeism, the turn over and the productivity of these employees, with presentation of the theory of Maslow\'s Needs Hierarchy. It was possible to conclude that human behavior in work situations is closely linked with the achievement of individual targets that together collaborate with the achievement of organizational objectives.

O contexto decisório está sofrendo profundas mudanças. No passado,quando a informação era escassa e as incertezas eram desconhecidas, deu lugar ao excesso de informação e a complexidade de entendimento que é inerente a ambientes dinâmicos com cenários variados e infinitas alternativas. O tempo, entretanto, permanece correndo ao seu ritmo, cobrando a adaptação organizacional às mudanças estratégicas exigidas. Nesse contexto, a atenção organizacional é exigida, seja para atuar de forma vigilante aos diversos sinais do ambiente, seja para selecionar aquilo que realmente interessa, seja para concentrar os esforços na execução de atividades buscando os objetivos organizacionais. Esse estudo contribui para a recente teoria da alocação de atenção organizacional, criada a partir de sólidos preceitos teóricos da Escola do Comportamento Organizacional de Simon, March e Cyert, mas que ainda não havia sido estudada a partir do objeto de análise original: o processo decisório. O objetivo principal do estudo foi trazer comprovações empíricas do modelo de alocação de atenção organizacional desenhado por Ocasio (1997), e avaliar a influência dos seus elementos estruturais na decisão estratégica organizacional. Para tal, a partir de critérios de viabilidade e conveniência, foram estudados dentro do Departamento de Administração e do Departamento de Economia da Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade da Universidade de São Paulo, 7 casos representativos de processos decisórios, onde foi investigada a existência, a importância e a utilização deliberada de elementos estruturais do processo de alocação de atenção organizacional. O método qualitativo, baseado em análise documental e entrevistas permitiu trazer evidências empíricas ao construto teórico esua aplicabilidade instrumental como forma de incentivo e de manipulação deliberada da atenção organizacional. Também foram encontrados de forma não intencional, diferenças significativas entre os modelos mentais e visão sistêmica entre administradores e economistas, o que pressupôs que a dedicação de pessoas a áreas de estudo distintas, criam diferenças significativas, que acabam refletindo na condução do processo decisório, na formação da estrutura organizacional e da condução estratégica de cada organização. Limitações do estudo, contribuições teóricas e práticas e sugestões para pesquisas futuras foram apresentadas. / The decision-making context is undergoing profound changes. The past where information was scarce and uncertainties were unknown, gave way to information overload and the complexity of understanding, seen in dynamic environments, with varied scenarios and infinite alternatives. Time, however, keeps running at its pace, requiring the organizational adaptation to strategic changes. In this context, organizational attention is required, either to act in a vigilant way to capture signs in the environment, to select what really matters, or to concentrate efforts toward organizational objectives. This study contribute to the recent theory of organizational attention allocation, created from solid theoretical precepts of Simon, March and Cyert´s Behavioral Theory, but not yet studied from original analysis: the decision making process.The main objective of the study was to provide empirical evidence of the organizational attention allocation model designed by Ocasio (1997), and to evaluate the influence of its structural elements on organizational strategic decision-making. To do this, seven cases of decision-making processes were investigated in the Business School and Economics School of Faculty of Economics, Administration and Accounting of the University of São Paulo, based on feasibility and convenience criteria. The existence, importance and deliberate use of elements and structures of the organizational attention allocation process, where investigated. The qualitative method used, based on documental analysis and interviews, allowed to highlight empirical evidences of the theoretical construct and its instrumental applicability as incentive and deliberate manipulation of organizational attention. Significant differences of mental models and the systemic view between managers and economists were unintended discovered. It was presupposed that the people´s different study areas, creates significant differences in the decision-making process, in organizational structure and in organizational strategic management. Limitations of the study, theoretical and practical contributions and suggestions for future research were presented.

Alliance portfolios, or a firm collection of simultaneous alliances, have become common phenomena particularly in technology industries. These portfolios have been found to have a significant impact on firms’ financial performance. At the same time, there is little consensus regarding the direction of this effect. Findings have shown positive, negative, curvilinear, and non-significant relationships. In this dissertation, I employed an organizational learning perspective to investigate the effect of alliance portfolio size on firm financial performance. Using a sample of 343 firm-year observations in the U.S. software industry, I explored portfolio- and firm-level characteristics as moderators of this relationship. Findings provide evidence for a curvilinear, inverted U-shaped relationship between portfolio size and firm performance that is moderated by the timing of the alliances within the portfolio and by the firms’ Top Management Team (TMT) turnover. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The focus of this study was to determine if university student leaders’ cognitive and behavioral agility is related to organizational member commitment and if this relationship is moderated by alterable and non-alterable variables. The empirical results from this study are based on the responses of 37 student leaders who occupy leadership positions in organizations and clubs in their respective university. Cognitive agility was measured by the student leader’s use of systems thinking, reframing, and reflection. Student leader behavioral agility was assessed by a minimum of three organizational members rating the student leader’s use of leader influence actions (transforming, managing, bonding, bridging, and bartering) in carrying out their functions. Organizational member commitment was measured by organization member’s level of commitment with the goals and values of the organization using the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ). / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This dissertation examines how different United States Department of the Interior (USDOI) employees’ perceive fairness and support for diversity. The USDOI is an agency with numerous STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) employees who have the opportunity to influence future generations through their STEM internship. Specifically, this dissertation examines the relationship between: (1) the perceived fairness of performance appraisals and the empowerment index, demographic characteristics, satisfaction, accountability and recognition; and (2) the perceived support (or lack thereof) of departmental programs and supervisors to foster diversity in the workforce and the empowerment index and demographic characteristics. This dissertation accomplishes several things. First, it provides a review of literature relating to gender diversity. Second, it provides a brief history of organizations that were created and acts/executive orders that were passed in order to support women in their fight against gender discrimination. Fourth, it provides a review of the USDOI’s recruitment, promotion, and employment policies. Finally, it presents an analysis of how USDOI employees’ perceptions of diversity differ by gender. This inquiry utilizes a theoretical framework based on Thomas and Ely’s (1996) and Selden and Selden’s (2001) four diversity paradigms; “discrimination and fairness,” “access and legitimacy,” “learning and effectiveness,” and “valuing and integrating.” These paradigms suggest that the true benefits of diversity can only be realized in the valuing and integrating paradigm where employees’ individual differences are used for the betterment of the organization. It is found that women tend not to perceive that their organization supports diversity. It is also found that the empowerment index, federal tenure, pay category, satisfaction, accountability and recognition are important in explaining employees’ perceptions of fairness and that the empowerment index, federal tenure, supervisory status, gender, and minority status are important in explaining employees’ perceptions of support for diversity. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Whether you are trying to impress others, communicate efficiently, develop trust with your teammates or followers, or choose key partners to work with, you need to accurately anticipate what others think of you. This process, which is called meta-perception (Laing, Phillipson, & Lee, 1966), is thus crucial for your day-to-day life, and also at work. Still, meta-perception fails to be considered as a key individual process in the field of Organizational Behavior – OB. Therefore, this dissertation aims to gather empirical and theoretical evidence showing that meta-perception is an important process for organizational life. Thus, this dissertation focuses on the process itself (i.e. meta-perception and meta-accuracy), its antecedents and its outcomes, applied to social evaluation situations that are common at work. First, I aim to provide the bases of a consensual and context-specific approach of meta-perception enabling its study in the field of OB by differentiating the manifestations of meta-accuracy and by using statistical methods that consider both components of meta-accuracy, namely meta-perception and other-perception (Edwards, 1995, 2002; Shanock, Baran, Gentry, Pattison, & Heggestad, 2010). Second, I aim to examine whether meta-perception, its bias and its accuracy are affected by specific antecedents (i.e. narcissism and leadership style) that have received growing attention in OB. Third, I aim to study the effect of meta-perception and its accuracy on outcomes usually influenced by person perception, such as performance and hireability, and characterized by social evaluation. To achieve these aims, four research projects were performed (i.e. three empirical projects, gathering eight studies, and one theoretical project). The first project examines the link between narcissistic tendencies and a specific form of meta-perception. The second project tests the effect of leadership style on the accuracy of meta-perception and whether this accuracy has a positive impact on task performance. The third project provides a theoretical framework on the advantages of including meta-perception of performance in Multi-Source Feedback. The fourth project tests whether meta-perception and its accuracy play a role in hireability. These research projects led to key contributions to the literature on meta-perception and its accuracy, narcissism, leadership and the field of OB. First, this research contributes to the literature on meta-perception by proposing a context-specific approach of meta-perception. This dissertation specifically justifies the need to (a) differentiate the aspects on which meta-perception focuses (e.g. emotions, behaviors, skills, traits), (b) study meta-perception as related to self-perception and other-perception to gain knowledge about the bias and accuracy of meta-perception, and (c) examine the role of meta-accuracy in predicting organizational behaviors according to its three dimensions (i.e. size, direction, and favorability). Second, it contributes to the literature on leadership by studying the effect of narcissism and leadership style on meta-perception through the assessment individuals’ egocentrism and flexibility. Third, it contributes to the OB field and meta-accuracy literature by showing that the three dimensions of meta-accuracy (i.e. size, direction and favorability) have specific effects on task performance, professional development and hireability. In fine, this dissertation constitutes a well-documented plea for the integration and recognition of meta-perception as a key process in Organizational Behavior studies. / Doctorat en Sciences économiques et de gestion / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished