For the past decade it has been pointed out that employee perspectives on and reactions to HRM should be reinstated within the relationship between HRM practices and performance, since employees are deemed critical to organizational outcomes. Furthermore, research has shown the limited effect of financial compensation practices on employee commitment and retention. The scarce theoretically grounded studies which have examined expatriate compensation have been guided by the view that financial compensation is a pivotal control and incentive mechanism, a flexible means to achieve corporate outcomes. This dissertation considers expatriate compensation from an individual perspective. It comprises four articles, of which three are based on empirical data. The first theoretical article brings to the fore the necessity of considering expatriate compensation as embedded into the employment relationship, which is itself entwined with the international environment of the expatriation. In the second article the relationship between expatriates' state of psychological contract related to their compensation package and affective commitment is investigated using quantitative empirical data. The third article examines more closely this previous relationship by considering the mediating role of perceived employer obligations. The fourth articles uses qualitative interview data to investigate, from a total reward perspective, what factors influence career decisions of global careerists. The dissertation shows that organizations would do well to encompass rewards most valued by expatriates into their compensation packages. Secondly, it shows that expatriates systematically assess their total reward package, interpret and give meaning to compensation signals in terms of fulfillment of perceived employer obligations. Simultaneously they re-adapt or adjust their attitudes at any moment through their employment relationship. Thus to retain expatriates organizations might do well to pay more attention to what expatriates value most in their employment relationship rather than simply paying them more.

Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

During the last decade, dramatic changes have been experienced in workplaces because of technological growth, globalisation, ever increasing competitive markets, changing industrial relation laws and better management skills (Cappelli, 1999). Amidst this change, the biggest issue is for organisations to gain dedication from their employees. Maslach et al (2001) explains that the impact of the changing world of work is perhaps most evident in changes in the psychological contract. Employees are expected to give more in terms of time, effort, skills and flexibility, whereas they receive less in terms of lifetime employment and job security. In security companies, the employer obligations and employee obligations also went through a process of change. Crime has become a very serious concern in South Africa. In Gauteng, crime has increased with 69,2% (SAP Statistics, 2005) from 1994 to 2004. Because of crime, many independent security companies were formed to help prevent crime, working together with the South African Police Force. A lack of research exists regarding employees' work outcomes like job insecurity, organisational commitment and intention to quit associated with the psychological contract within a service company. The objectives of this study are to investigate the relationship between employer obligations, employee obligations, job insecurity, organisational commitment and intention to quit of employees (N=217) in a service (security) company. A cross - sectional design was used. Constructs were measured by means of an employer obligations questionnaire, employee obligations questionnaire, job insecurity questionnaire, organisational commitment questionnaire and intention to quit questionnaire. The research method for each of the two articles consists of a brief literature review and an empirical study. Exploratory factor analysis, as well as Cronbach alpha coefficients are computed to access the reliability and validity of the different measurement instruments. Descriptive statistics are used to analyse data and Pearson product moment correlation coefficients, as well as regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between the constructs employed in this research. Significant differences are found between various biographical groups and the scores of the psychological contract (employer obligations scale and employee obligations scale), the job insecurity scale, the organisational commitment scale and the intention to quit scale. Conclusions are made, limitations of the current research are discussed and recommendations for future research are put forward. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Sociology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

This bachelor thesis in business administration investigates the employee branding process of Company X in order to gain an understanding of how the company works with and can utilize this as an efficient tool. Recent research shows that Swedish companies that focus on building their brands are more profitable than companies that do not. Furthermore, re- search show that relationship building is an increasingly important area of marketing, which means that employees have a key role in creating a brand through the relationships they build. As Company X to some extent relies on relationship building in a multi- stakeholder environment, where pharmaceutical companies traditionally have competed through innovation, employee branding could be used as a competitive advantage for Company X. The process of employee branding is used to align employee’s internal view of the com- pany brand with the desired brand image in order to make the employees project it consis- tently. According to the theories used, the key drivers to successful employee branding are, through consistent communication, (1) ascertaining employee knowledge of the desired brand image and (2) making sure employees want to project this image through an upheld psychological contract. This investigation therefore covers how Company X works with the process of employee branding, how employees perceive what the management wants to communicate and any potential discrepancies between management and employee views. From a qualitative and interpretative approach, four interviews have been conducted with the top management at Company X and a survey has then been distributed to employees with customer contact at the company. The findings show that Company X has successfully implemented its values in the minds of employees, but lacks a clear focus on building its brand. Therefore, while the psycho- logical contract in general is found to be upheld, to a high extent, the knowledge of the de- sired brand image does not seem to be at a satisfactory level.

To work and live in the same place where ones employer also is the landlord, can create a situation with many special requirements for the individual. Constrains regarding time, space and impact on social life is likely to appear. Based on theory and empirical research about the Boundaryless work and the Psychological contract the purpose of this report is to examine employees who live and work at the same place. This is done by studying the regulation regarding time and space factors and the psychological contracts in expectations and in violation of the psychological contract and the risks associated with this like Locked-in factors. The study includes interviews with managers and employees (n=9). The result shows the difficulties to set standards for the constrains of the factors concerning time and space. The expectations from both employees and the organization goes beyond what can be considered as formal work boundaries. The results are discussed in relation to the risks of stress, health and Lock-in.

This research explores the management problem of how individuals can influence the development of a strategic orientation within a firm. A market orientation strategy builds upon three dimensions: the organisation-wide acquisition, dissemination, and co-ordination of market intelligence (Jaworski & Kohli, 1993). Such management of market-based information requires a set of distinct dynamic capabilities or routines. Empirical research about the association between market orientation and performance shows that firms that develop these capabilities improve both their organisational and financial performance (Gray, Buchanan, & Mallon, 2003). This research attempts to understand the circumstances that prompt employees in all areas of an organisation to become accountable for the implementation of a market-oriented strategy. To date, studies have inadequately measured individual contribution to the market orientation of a firm and do not understand each employee's personal responsibility and willingness to act in a market-oriented way. In response, this thesis developed a dynamic, multi-dimensional scale of individual market-oriented behaviour. First-stage research used focus groups and extant literature to construct a measure of individual market orientation. Then, a cross-section of financial services employees completed a web-based survey measuring individual market-oriented behaviour and individual and interpersonal antecedents. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the presence of a single latent construct with three dimensions. Study results identified a strong and significant relationship between the performance of market-oriented behaviours and the perception of a high-quality fulfilled psychological contract with the employer. Employees who were agile learners and frequently in contact with customers were also more likely to practice market-oriented behaviours.

Syftet med uppsatsen är att utifrån det psykologiska kontraktet och tre hypoteserundersöka dimensioner av relationen mellan chefer och medarbetare och belysaskillnader. Undersökningen bygger på enkätsvar från 81 medarbetare och 18 cheferfrån två organisationer. Vi behandlar i uppsatsen fem dimensioner av relationenmellan chefer och medarbetare, dessa är uppförande, rättvisa, trygghet, förtroendeoch kommunikation. Två av dimensionerna skiljer sig mellan grupperna när vi testarom det finns skillnader beroende på vilket företag en respondent tillhör och endimension skiljer sig när vi undersöker om det finns skillnader i uppfattningenmellan chefer och medarbetare. När vi jämför ett internationellt företag med ettmindre, lokalt, företag får vi resultat som motsäger vårt antagande att skillnaderi uppfattning om relationens dimensioner är större i det internationella företaget.Vi drar slutsatsen att relationens dimensioner inte är beroende av varandra utanpåverkas av olika faktorer. I de fall då parterna har egna intressen påverkasdimensionerna av relationen chef-medarbetare. Då dimensionerna kan kopplas tillpersonliga relationer eller företagskultur är dimensionen påverkad av företaget. / The aim of this thesis is to study the dimensions of the relationship betweenemployer and employee using three hypothesis and the theories concerning thepsychological contract as a starting-point. Our data comprehend survey responsesfrom 81 employees and 18 managers from two organizations. In the thesis we comparethe means of five indexes: behaviour, fairness, security, trust and communication.The means differ statistically significant for behaviour when testing with managershipas a grouping variable and for fairness and trust while testing against whichcompany the respondents belong to. When we compare the mean differences withinthe companies against each other we receive results that contradict our hypothesis.We conclude that the relationship dimensions lack interdependence but are effectedby different aspects. Furthermore, in cases where the parties have own intereststhe dimensions are influenced by the managership. In cases where the dimensionscan associate to a organizational culture or a personal relationship the dimension isinfluenced by the company.

Uppsatsens syfte är identifiera och analysera de förväntningar som medarbetare och chef har på varandra inom den avreglerade apoteksmarknaden och se hur väl dessa förväntningar överensstämmer med varandra. Detta görs med kvalitativa intervjuer.  Studien bygger på tre intervjuer, med två medarbetare och en chef, på ett mindre apotek i stockholmsområdet. Resultatet visar att förväntningarna, på rollerna medarbetare och chef, överlag överrensstämmer väl och även viljan att nå en ömsesidig förståelse mellan parterna är god. Potentiella problem kan uppstå i de områden där båda parterna visserligen har förståelse för varandras förväntningar, men inte äger möjligeheten att uppfylla dem. Studien har identifierat ett antal områden där det finns potential för att brott mot det psykologiska kontraktet kan uppstå. Exempel på detta är den balansgång där chefen dels skall vara en i gruppen och samtidigt skall kunna fatta svåra beslut. Teorin har utgått från Morrison och Robinsons modell om hur brott mot det psykologiska kontraktet utvecklas. Studien berör de delarna i denna modell som hanterar de faktorer som påverkar uppkomsten av kontraktsbrott. / The purpuse of this studie is to identify and analyze the expectations between employee and manager in the deregulated farmaci market and to see how well these expectaions correlate with eachother. This by using  three qualitative interwives with two employees and one manager at a small farmaci store in the Stockholm region. The result shows that the expectation over all correlates well and so does the will to reach a mutual understanding for the other parts needs. The identified difficulties found in this studie lies in the areas where both part are awere of the other parts expectations, but find it difficulties fullfill them. We have identified  a number of areas in witch the potential for developmet of psychological contract breach can occur. An example is the anticipal role of the manager who shall be a part of, as well as being able to make hard decsions over the group. The theory is based on a modell, founded by Morrison and Robinson, about how psychological violations develops. The studie mainly focus on the first parts of the model which concerns the development of the contract breach.

The relationship between employer and employee is, from a judicial point of view, governed primarily by economic and employment contracts. However, a significant part of the dynamic is also dictated by tacit expectations and promises (so called psychological contracts). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived organizational support (POS) and psychological contract violation. Primary hypothesis assumed that there was a correlation between higher perceived organizational support and a reduction of feelings of violation from psychological contract breach. It was also assumed that employment time, sex and past breach experiences correlated with feelings of violation. Surveys were used to gather empirical data. Respondents consisted of 62 municipal employees, mainly in the education sector. Results showed a moderate relationship between POS and feelings of violation. No other significant correlations were found. This paper therefore argues for the importance of promoting good organizational support to its employees, which ultimately also improves organizational well-being and efficiency. Keywords: Work, organizational, psychology, human resource management, HR, psychological contract, organizational support, emotions, affects.

Problem: Rebranding in the services is a recent trend, which brings focus to the impor-tance of the employees in this process. Their attitudes, perceptions and views need to be considered by the management when creating the internal communication strategy related to the rebranding in order to direct the employees to the desired brand image. This raises the problem as how employees perceive the management`s rebranding efforts. Purpose: This study aims to focus on how rebranding is executed and communicated in-ternally to the employees of the company. It is interesting to find out how the employees evaluate the communication strategy that the management implements and how they perceive the new image of the company. In order to get insight to the internal rebranding process the correlation between the perceived image by the employees and the components of the internal communication strategy is presented. Methodology: The empirical approach is a case study of the Bulgarian telecommunication company Vivacom. The research includes two interviews with the management of the company and a questionnaire based on the interviews and the relevant literature, which was sent to the employees of the company. Moreover, company`s documentation and website were used to complement the information. Conclusions: The results helped us identify the decisions that the management made re-garding the rebranding and the internal communication. The quantitative data indicated the relatively positive attitudes and views of the employees for the management`s rebranding efforts. They also showed good knowledge and awareness of the new brand elements.