No abstract available. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Scholars have repeatedly demonstrated the positive benefits of high-quality leader-member exchange (LMX) for employees and organizations alike. Although some research has examined outcomes of differentiation of LMX relationships within teams, there is scant research into the way in which the combination of LMX and LMX differentiation (LMX-D) interact at the leader-level in the workplace hierarchy and the trickle-down effects these leader relationships have on subordinates. Moreover, no research has examined the potential buffering effect that subordinate team LMX may have on leaders who are experiencing the desire to withdraw from the organization as a result of the combination of their leader-leader exchange (LLX) relationships and the LLX differentiation (LLX-D) they perceive on their own leader teams. Thus, the present study sought to combine LMX and multilevel leadership theories to examine the effects of these leader-level exchange relationships on turnover intentions (TOI) for both individuals in leader-member dyads. Results suggested stronger negative relationships between LLX and TOI for both leaders and members when LLX-D is lower. However, examining this relationship at the leader-level when accounting for subordinate team LMX mean suggests that high-quality LMX relationships with the team members supervised by the leader attenuates the negative relationship between LLX and leader TOI. Theoretical and practical contributions are discussed, including the importance of the relationship of LLX, LLX-D, and team LMX mean on employee attitudes at multiple organizational levels.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / In today’s workforce, multitasking on the job has become increasingly important. However, past research has characterized multitasking primarily as a counterproductive work strategy. Drawing from the theory of person-job (PJ) fit, in this this study it is proposed that multitasking may not always result in performance decrements but rather that people’s perceptions and experiences of multitasking may differ depending on individual differences. The theory of PJ fit suggests positive outcomes when there is a match between employee preferences, abilities and job characteristics. Using this framework, this study proposes the concept of multitasking fit and predicts that a match between multitasking preferences and multitasking job demands will result in positive work attitudes. Lastly, it is predicted that higher working memory will lead to higher job performance, especially in jobs requiring higher amounts of multitasking. This study found that PJ fit had generally positive effects on work-related outcomes such as job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intentions, and strains. Due to measurement issues, the relationship between working memory and job performance could not be assessed. However, the results of this study relating to PJ fit suggest that perhaps multitasking is not always a bad strategy within the workplace and that its consequences may instead depend on the degree of fit between an individual and his or her working environment.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Theoretically, inter-role conflict can occur between any life domains that place competing demands on an individual. However, inter-role conflict research has mainly focused on the conflict between only two domains: work and family. This limited focus is problematic because it has excluded many other potential life domains in which people participate. In order to focus more attention on other life domains, however, it is necessary to understand which life domains people are participating in. As such, the goal of the present qualitative research was to identify and define the full spectrum of life domains by asking two questions: What life domains are relevant to work-life conflict, and how do people value the various life domains in which they are involved? A total of 13 life domains emerged from the data. Participants engaged in an average of 9 of these domains, indicating that people engage in many activities in life outside just work and family.