University of Macau / Faculty of Education

This work was developed with the aim to investigate the influence of organizational commitment and entrenchment, as well as the perceptions of servers at UFSM about organizational support for transfer of training on impact of training on the job. To this end, we carried out a descriptive explicative study, drawing on quantitative methodologies. The search sample consisted of 392 civil servents of a Federal Institution of Higher Education, to which a questionnaire was developed from a model of self-assessment of Training at Work of Abbad (1999) and model assessment of Commitment Organizational Entrenchment proposed by Bastos et al (2008). The data were analyzed using the software Excel, SPSS and SAS. Did basic descriptive statistics, correlation and application of regression models. We have identified positive correlations between dimensions of commitment and positive correlations between the dimensions of entrenchment. Were also found positive correlations between the impact of training on the job, support the transfer and affective commitment. The most interesting were a negative correlations demonstrated between impact and the dimensions of entrenchment: Limitations of alternatives and bureaucratic arrangements. Yet, regression analysis revealed that the model with higher predictive power of the impact of training on work explained its variance by 25% by the variables: Support to training transfer, Affective and entrenchment dimensions: bureaucratic arrangements (this was correlated negative). Still, the predictive strength of support for the transfer of training on the affective commitment was statistically modest, with only 10% of variance explained. Based on these results, we can draw some strategic suggestions for strengthening the impact and that the employee develops ties with the organization. In this sense, organizations could look to the fact that support the transfer of training and affective commitment constitute predictors of impact. Therefore, it is interesting that organizations become aware of its members to provide a work environment characterized by support in the search for improvement, as well as for its employees to be able to transfer new knowledge to the work section. This support will make individuals feel more committed emotionally. / Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o propósito de investigar a influência do comprometimento e do entrincheiramento organizacionais, bem como das percepções dos servidores da UFSM acerca do suporte organizacional à transferência de treinamento, sobre impacto do treinamento no trabalho. Para tanto, realizou-se uma pesquisa descritiva de caráter explicativo, valendo-se de metodologias quantitativas. A amostra da pesquisa foi composta por 392 servidores de uma Instituição Federal de Ensino Superior, aos quais foi aplicado um questionário elaborado a partir do modelo de auto-avaliação de Impacto do Treinamento no Trabalho de Abbad (1999) e do modelo de avaliação de Comprometimento e Entrincheiramento Organizacionais proposto por Bastos et al (2008). Os dados obtidos foram analisados por meio dos softwares Excel, SPSS e SAS. Foram realizadas estatísticas descritivas básicas, correlações e aplicação de modelos de regressão. Identificaram-se correlações positivas entre as dimensões de comprometimento e correlações positivas entre as dimensões de entrincheiramento. Também foram encontradas correlações positivas entre o impacto do treinamento no trabalho, suporte à transferência e comprometimento afetivo. O mais interessante foram as correlações negativas demonstradas entre impacto e as dimensões de entrincheiramento: Limitações de alternativas e Arranjos burocráticos. Ainda, as análises de regressão revelaram que o modelo com maior poder de predição do Impacto do treinamento no trabalho explicou sua variância em 25% pelas variáveis: Suporte à transferência de treinamento, Comprometimento afetivo e pela dimensão de entrincheiramento: Arranjos burocráticos (essa apresentou relação negativa). Ainda, a força preditiva do Suporte à transferência do treinamento sobre o comprometimento afetivo foi modesta estatisticamente, com apenas 10 % da variância explicada. Diante dos resultados obtidos, pode-se elaborar algumas sugestões estratégicas para o fortalecimento do impacto e dos vínculos que o funcionário desenvolve com a organização. Nesse sentido, as organizações poderiam atentar para o fato de que o suporte à transferência de treinamento e o comprometimento afetivo se constituem em preditores de impacto. Sendo assim, seria interessante que as organizações se preocupassem em proporcionar a seus membros um ambiente de trabalho caracterizado pelo apoio na busca por aperfeiçoamento, bem como para que seus colaboradores consigam transferir os novos conhecimentos para o setor de trabalho. Esse apoio fará com que os indivíduos se sintam mais comprometidos afetivamente.

In this study, the transfer of learning criteria that can be implemented before, during and after a learning programme was investigated. The transfer of learning criteria was identified, after which the Station Management Learning Programme was evaluated to see whether transfer of learning criteria was used during the facilitation of the programme. The study population for the research was comprised of facilitators and station commanders, who facilitated and attended the Station Management Learning Programme in Gauteng as part of their development as Station Commanders. The study methodology involved qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection, with questionnaires and one-on-one interviews. Descriptive statistics were produced and literature, questionnaires and interviews were examined to establish whether transfer of learning took place. The findings of the study reflect that various learning transfer strategies exist and that these can be used to transfer learning from the classroom to the work environment. The study concludes that a significant number of transfer of learning strategies are already implemented in the South African Police Service, in the presentation of the Station Management Learning Programme. / Adult Basic Education (ABET) / M. Ed. (Adult Education)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between attitudes towards supervisory support after training and work performance of employees at the Department of Education’s Nkangala District in Mpumalanga during 2008. The sample comprised a complete sampling frame of HR and finance personnel. A five-point Likert scale was used to evaluate the attitudes of respondents towards supervisory support, and their work performance scores were correlated with the ratings of the attitudes towards supervisory support after training. Pearson’s product- moment correlation coefficient (PPM) was used to assess the relationship between the two variables. The results showed no significant relationship between attitudes towards supervisory support and work performance. The ANOVA test found that a significant (p= .016) difference only existed between attitudes towards supervisory support and educational level. The hypothesis stated in this study was therefore rejected. / Human Resource Management / M. Tech. (Human Resource Development)

Alors que la théorie de l’autodétermination (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000, 2008) propose un bassin de connaissances pouvant être d’une réelle utilité pour aider les travailleurs et les organisations à croître et à prospérer, peu d’études ont porté, à ce jour, sur l’évaluation d’interventions visant à implanter ces connaissances sur le terrain en milieu organisationnel. En ce sens, la présente thèse a pour but de vérifier l’impact d’une formation visant le développement des habiletés de soutien aux besoins psychologiques des gestionnaires sur les comportements en emploi de ces gestionnaires ainsi que sur la satisfaction des besoins psychologiques, la motivation et la santé psychologique de leurs employés. Pour ce faire, 17 gestionnaires provenant de deux organisations canadiennes du secteur public ont participé à un programme de formation d’une durée de trois journées non consécutives. Ils ont également répondu à des questionnaires un mois avant la formation ainsi que trois à quatre mois après le début de celle-ci afin d’évaluer leurs apprentissages ainsi que leurs comportements de soutien aux besoins psychologiques en emploi. Par ailleurs, 55 de leurs employés ont répondu à des questionnaires préformation et postformation au sujet de leur perception à l’égard des comportements de soutien aux besoins psychologiques de leur supérieur immédiat ainsi que de leur propre niveau de satisfaction des besoins psychologiques, de motivation au travail et de santé psychologique. L’étude a été menée à l’aide d’un devis de recherche de type prétest et post-test à groupes non-équivalents, sans groupe contrôle. Afin de renforcer ce devis, la stratégie de référence interne a été utilisée auprès des employés (Haccoun & Hamtiaux, 1994). Les résultats suggèrent que, dans la mesure où des gains étaient possibles par le biais d’une formation plus traditionnelle (c.-à-d., que le potentiel des gestionnaires à s’améliorer davantage par rapport à leur niveau de base était suffisant et que les habiletés visées se développaient bien par le biais d’une telle formation), les gestionnaires ont développé leurs habiletés de soutien aux besoins psychologiques et, selon leur perspective, transféré leurs apprentissages au travail. Toutefois, les employés de ces gestionnaires n’ont pas perçu de changement statistiquement significatif entre les deux temps de mesure quant aux habiletés de soutien aux besoins psychologiques de leur supérieur immédiat en emploi et les retombées escomptées de la formation chez les employés n’ont pas été observées. À la lumière de ces résultats, le dernier chapitre de la thèse discute de l’importance de l’analyse des besoins, de l’implication de l’environnement organisationnel dans les initiatives de formation ainsi que de l’ajout de méthodes d’apprentissage complémentaires aux formations plus traditionnelles afin d’en assurer l’efficacité. Par ailleurs, les contributions, limites et pistes de recherches futures de la thèse y seront exposées. / Although the self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000, 2008) provides a pool of knowledge that could be highly useful to help workers and organisations thrive and grow, few studies have focused on assessing interventions introducing such knowledge in practical organisational settings. In this respect, the present dissertation aims to evaluate the impact of a training program for developing psychological needs support skills of managers on work behaviours of these managers as well as on the level of satisfaction of psychological needs, motivation and psychological health of their employees. Hence, 17 managers from Canadian public sector organisations took part in a three-day training program (non-consecutive days). They also completed questionnaires a month prior to training as well as three to four months following training onset in order to assess their learning progresses and psychological needs support behaviours at work. Furthermore, 55 of their employees completed pre-training and post-training questionnaires on their perception of their manager’s psychological needs support behaviours as well as on their own level of psychological needs satisfaction, work motivation and psychological health. The study used a pre-post test non-equivalent group design, without control groups. Such design was further strengthened with internal referencing strategy (IRS) with employees (Haccoun & Hamtiaux, 1994). Results suggest that, insofar as progresses were possible with more traditional training (i.e., that the managers’ improvement potential as compared to their baseline was sufficient and that targeted skills developed properly with such training) managers have increased their psychological need support skills and, based on their perceptions, transferred training at work. However, employees of these managers did not perceive statistically significant changes between both measurement times as regards their manager’s psychological needs support skills, and expected outcomes of training on employees have not been observed. In light of these results, the last chapter of the dissertation discusses the importance of needs assessment, of organisational environment involvement in training initiatives and of additional training methods that are complementary to more traditional trainings to ensure their effectiveness. Furthermore, research contributions, limits and avenues are presented.

Alors que la théorie de l’autodétermination (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000, 2008) propose un bassin de connaissances pouvant être d’une réelle utilité pour aider les travailleurs et les organisations à croître et à prospérer, peu d’études ont porté, à ce jour, sur l’évaluation d’interventions visant à implanter ces connaissances sur le terrain en milieu organisationnel. En ce sens, la présente thèse a pour but de vérifier l’impact d’une formation visant le développement des habiletés de soutien aux besoins psychologiques des gestionnaires sur les comportements en emploi de ces gestionnaires ainsi que sur la satisfaction des besoins psychologiques, la motivation et la santé psychologique de leurs employés. Pour ce faire, 17 gestionnaires provenant de deux organisations canadiennes du secteur public ont participé à un programme de formation d’une durée de trois journées non consécutives. Ils ont également répondu à des questionnaires un mois avant la formation ainsi que trois à quatre mois après le début de celle-ci afin d’évaluer leurs apprentissages ainsi que leurs comportements de soutien aux besoins psychologiques en emploi. Par ailleurs, 55 de leurs employés ont répondu à des questionnaires préformation et postformation au sujet de leur perception à l’égard des comportements de soutien aux besoins psychologiques de leur supérieur immédiat ainsi que de leur propre niveau de satisfaction des besoins psychologiques, de motivation au travail et de santé psychologique. L’étude a été menée à l’aide d’un devis de recherche de type prétest et post-test à groupes non-équivalents, sans groupe contrôle. Afin de renforcer ce devis, la stratégie de référence interne a été utilisée auprès des employés (Haccoun & Hamtiaux, 1994). Les résultats suggèrent que, dans la mesure où des gains étaient possibles par le biais d’une formation plus traditionnelle (c.-à-d., que le potentiel des gestionnaires à s’améliorer davantage par rapport à leur niveau de base était suffisant et que les habiletés visées se développaient bien par le biais d’une telle formation), les gestionnaires ont développé leurs habiletés de soutien aux besoins psychologiques et, selon leur perspective, transféré leurs apprentissages au travail. Toutefois, les employés de ces gestionnaires n’ont pas perçu de changement statistiquement significatif entre les deux temps de mesure quant aux habiletés de soutien aux besoins psychologiques de leur supérieur immédiat en emploi et les retombées escomptées de la formation chez les employés n’ont pas été observées. À la lumière de ces résultats, le dernier chapitre de la thèse discute de l’importance de l’analyse des besoins, de l’implication de l’environnement organisationnel dans les initiatives de formation ainsi que de l’ajout de méthodes d’apprentissage complémentaires aux formations plus traditionnelles afin d’en assurer l’efficacité. Par ailleurs, les contributions, limites et pistes de recherches futures de la thèse y seront exposées. / Although the self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000, 2008) provides a pool of knowledge that could be highly useful to help workers and organisations thrive and grow, few studies have focused on assessing interventions introducing such knowledge in practical organisational settings. In this respect, the present dissertation aims to evaluate the impact of a training program for developing psychological needs support skills of managers on work behaviours of these managers as well as on the level of satisfaction of psychological needs, motivation and psychological health of their employees. Hence, 17 managers from Canadian public sector organisations took part in a three-day training program (non-consecutive days). They also completed questionnaires a month prior to training as well as three to four months following training onset in order to assess their learning progresses and psychological needs support behaviours at work. Furthermore, 55 of their employees completed pre-training and post-training questionnaires on their perception of their manager’s psychological needs support behaviours as well as on their own level of psychological needs satisfaction, work motivation and psychological health. The study used a pre-post test non-equivalent group design, without control groups. Such design was further strengthened with internal referencing strategy (IRS) with employees (Haccoun & Hamtiaux, 1994). Results suggest that, insofar as progresses were possible with more traditional training (i.e., that the managers’ improvement potential as compared to their baseline was sufficient and that targeted skills developed properly with such training) managers have increased their psychological need support skills and, based on their perceptions, transferred training at work. However, employees of these managers did not perceive statistically significant changes between both measurement times as regards their manager’s psychological needs support skills, and expected outcomes of training on employees have not been observed. In light of these results, the last chapter of the dissertation discusses the importance of needs assessment, of organisational environment involvement in training initiatives and of additional training methods that are complementary to more traditional trainings to ensure their effectiveness. Furthermore, research contributions, limits and avenues are presented.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between attitudes towards supervisory support after training and work performance of employees at the Department of Education’s Nkangala District in Mpumalanga during 2008. The sample comprised a complete sampling frame of HR and finance personnel. A five-point Likert scale was used to evaluate the attitudes of respondents towards supervisory support, and their work performance scores were correlated with the ratings of the attitudes towards supervisory support after training. Pearson’s product- moment correlation coefficient (PPM) was used to assess the relationship between the two variables. The results showed no significant relationship between attitudes towards supervisory support and work performance. The ANOVA test found that a significant (p= .016) difference only existed between attitudes towards supervisory support and educational level. The hypothesis stated in this study was therefore rejected. / Human Resource Management / M. Tech. (Human Resource Development)

In this study, the transfer of learning criteria that can be implemented before, during and after a learning programme was investigated. The transfer of learning criteria was identified, after which the Station Management Learning Programme was evaluated to see whether transfer of learning criteria was used during the facilitation of the programme. The study population for the research was comprised of facilitators and station commanders, who facilitated and attended the Station Management Learning Programme in Gauteng as part of their development as Station Commanders. The study methodology involved qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection, with questionnaires and one-on-one interviews. Descriptive statistics were produced and literature, questionnaires and interviews were examined to establish whether transfer of learning took place. The findings of the study reflect that various learning transfer strategies exist and that these can be used to transfer learning from the classroom to the work environment. The study concludes that a significant number of transfer of learning strategies are already implemented in the South African Police Service, in the presentation of the Station Management Learning Programme. / Adult Basic Education (ABET) / M. Ed. (Adult Education)

本研究係以訓練移轉之理論來檢驗行政院哈佛菁英領導班之實施成效。蓋訓練移轉係受訓者在接受訓練課程後，將從課程中所學的知識與技術，應用在實際業務中問題解決之動態過程，其著重的是訓練後對所學知識技術之消化，及對職場工作之回饋，是最有效的內隱知識外顯化的展現。故訓練移轉之成功與否，可作為評估訓練課程是否有助工作的最佳方式。而哈佛菁英領導班係行政院為有系統培育具有前瞻國際視野之全觀型新世代中高階領導人員，強化其政策統合、規劃及領導管理能力並激發其內在潛能，促使我國公務部門整體人力素質提升，以提升我國國家競爭力，自94年起，與美國哈佛大學甘迺迪政府學院合作，規劃辦理菁英領導班，參加人員係由全國中央及地方機關遴選出年輕具發展潛力之科長級以上人員，因開辦不易且所費不貲，故從規劃初期即透過課程內容安排、學員推薦及遴選過程及賡續培訓措施等設計來確保訓練效益。基此，本研究參考以往訓練移轉研究文獻後，建構研究架構與自變項及依變項，並針對該班第一屆及第二屆之學員施以問卷調查後，進行因素分析，此外，並隨機挑選各10名學員之主管及同事進行深度訪談，以作為量化研究之輔助佐證資料。