Autonomy is one of the most commonly studied job characteristics in the work design literature and is commonly associated with large and positive effects on job satisfaction. There is reason to believe that autonomy may interact with personality characteristics to affect attitudinal outcomes, but prior research has tended to focus on the original growth-need-strength construct as a potential moderator with mixed results. One glaring gap in the literature is the lack of research that examines the Big Five constructs of personality as a potential class of moderators. Grant, Fried, and Juillerat (2010) have suggested additional research into the Big Five as moderators of individuals' attitudinal reactions to job characteristics. Moreover, several researchers (e.g., Dudley, Orvis, Lebiecki, & Cortina, 2006; Judge, Heller, & Mount, 2002; Major, Turner, & Fletcher, 2006) have called for increased attention to the facets of the Big Five in conducting such research. This dissertation addressed these two gaps in the research literature. First, the study examined conscientiousness as a potential moderator of the relationship between the job design characteristic of autonomy and the outcomes of job satisfaction and person-job fit. Second, the study tested specific hypotheses regarding these interactions using both the global construct of conscientiousness and the narrower sub-traits--or facets--that exist underneath the broader trait. This dissertation also contributes to the research literature by creating a new measure of person autonomy fit adapted from an existing person job fit measure (Cable & DeRue, 2002) and by showing that person autonomy fit mediates the effect of autonomy and job satisfaction and person job fit. Data were collected at two time points from 181 employees at a national wholesale distribution cooperative. Participants came from the corporate office and 10 independently owned locations across the United States, and held a wide variety of jobs. The results indicated strong main effects for autonomy and conscientiousness and its facets on job satisfaction, and a strong effect of autonomy on person-job fit, but did not find evidence of interactions between autonomy and conscientiousness or any of its facets. Moreover, the results indicate that person autonomy fit mediates the effect of autonomy on these two attitudinal outcomes. Based on these results, I suggest that organizations interested in creating work environments that foster high levels of job satisfaction can do so using at least two mechanisms: 1) by selecting individuals with higher levels of conscientiousness and 2) by providing high levels of autonomy in the workplace. I also argue that the potential payoff of providing autonomous work environments is far higher than for selecting workers predisposed to be more satisfied with their jobs. Finally, I suggest that more research is needed to understand the complex interaction between individual differences and workplace environments.

Demand for healthcare services is rising dramatically as the proportion of older adults in the United States increases, and the success of these healthcare organizations depends on cooperation among patients, doctors, and nurses. These interpersonal interactions come with costs associated with managing one's emotions in ways that are in line with completing job tasks effectively, especially as past research has demonstrated that nurses are likely to experience and respond to incivility, and nurses of minority backgrounds even moreso. This study examines the effect of experiencing incivility on engaging in surface acting, or simulating emotions that are not actually felt; how these two factors influence well-being outcomes; and the impact of racial differences in these relationships. A sample of 100 Black and White nurses participated in this research. Results indicate that experiencing incivility increases emotional exhaustion both directly and indirectly through engaging in surface acting in response to incivility. Additionally, findings suggest that Black nurses are more likely than White nurses to experience incivility from other nurses. These results highlight how incivility can contribute to burnout and negative health outcomes and that this effect may be particularly salient among Black nurses.

The current work-family literature strongly emphasizes the conflict between the multiple roles that workers and parents assume. This conflict literature leaves readers with the impression that individuals are experiencing stress to a level that detracts from their quality of life (Frone, 2003; Parasuraman, Greenhaus, & Granrose, 1992). A more balanced perspective recognizes both the disadvantages and the potential advantages of engaging in multiple roles. Recent evidence indicates that occupying the roles of worker and spouse/parent may also produce positive outcomes such as greater satisfaction in marriage and on the job (Barnett, 1998; Barnett & Garies, 2006). Greenhaus and Powell (2006) offer one theory that explains the positive interaction between work and family roles by introducing the concept of enrichment, a theory that explains why one role might improve the quality of life in the other role. Using a sample of intercollegiate coaches (N = 286) from institutions located in the United States, this study assessed the influence of work-family conflict and work-family enrichment in relation to occupational and life outcomes for college coaches. Levels of conflict in work-to-family and family-to-work were measured, as well as levels of enrichment in work-to-family and family-to-work. Multiple regression was utilized to analyze six conceptual models with gender, age of participant, the presence of children at home, work-family conflict and work-family enrichment as independent variables. The results indicated work-to-family enrichment ([beta] = .318) and family-to-work enrichment ([beta] = .257) were both significant predictors of life satisfaction (p < .01). Work-to-family conflict ([beta] = -.118) and family-to-work conflict ([beta] = -.269) were significant predictors of life satisfaction (p < .01). Likewise, work-to-family conflict ([beta] = .385) and family-to-work conflict ([beta] = .140) were significant predictors of career commitment (p < .01). Age was a significant predictor of career commitment (p < .05). The findings highlight the need for future theoretical models to include both work-family conflict and work-family enrichment as both contribute uniquely to career and life outcomes. Practical implications include educating athletic administrators of the benefits coaches may accrue as a result of being engaged in both family and work roles. / text

M.Tech. Business Administration. Business School. / Optimal performance outcomes when working from home (small office home office) (SOHO) refers to the impact of job satisfaction and work-life-balance on it. Working from home doesn't have an effect on job satisfaction but does influence work-life-balance positively. Two hypotheses were investigated: (1) whether the job satisfaction of employees working from home at Alexander Forbes was affected and (2) whether the work-life-balance of employees working from home at Alexander Forbes was affected.

The purpose of the study was to identify and describe the approach and strategies used to downsize a mental health organization. This ethnographic study was conducted at a psychiatric hospital that is beginning the 4th year of a 10 year downsizing plan. Data were gathered through interviews, informal observations, and field documents. This research design facilitated an understanding of the phenomenon in the context of the practices and beliefs of the executive management team. Semistructured interviews were conducted with six executive and four middle managers who were involved in the downsizing decision making process. Freeman and Cameron's (1993) definition of downsizing was broadened to encompass not-for-profit reasons for downsizing. Cameron's (1994) downsizing model was supported and an additional best practice called alignment of purpose was proposed in which the leadership of an organization attempts to align the stakeholders with similar goals and objectives for downsizing. The emotional process of downsizing emerged as a key area to address concurrently with job security and other more pragmatic consequences of downsizing. Empathy was suggested as one method of dealing with the emotional process of downsizing.

[Truncated abstract] Background Performance measurement in the not-for-profit sector is extremely important in terms of measuring the efficiency and effectiveness of organisations in achieving their goals. Performance indicators assist management in strategic decision making and fulfilling their accountability obligations for the best use of limited resources to funders, purchasers, consumers, and other stakeholder groups. Aim This thesis seeks to further the research into performance measurement in the notfor- profit sector by evaluating the effectiveness of different methods of employment (open employment and supported employment) for people with intellectual disabilities. The disability employment sector is selected as the sector in which to undertake this research, as there are hundreds of disability employment agencies across Australia, which either support people with intellectual disabilities in supported employment or place them into open employment; each of whom contracts directly with the Australian Commonwealth Government for the services they must provide in order to receive funding. Method The Eggleton (1991) performance measurement framework is used to justify the measurement of the effectiveness of the different methods of employment based on the job satisfaction and quality of life of individuals participating in each method of employment. Job satisfaction is measured using a refined version of the Barlow and Kirby (1991) job satisfaction questionnaire, while quality of life is measured using both a refined version of the Schalock and Keith (1993) quality of life questionnaire, and the original questionnaire. One hundred and seventeen people with intellectual disabilities, who were employed in either supported employment or open employment, are interviewed. Statistical analyses are conducted on the entire sample, and also on various sub-samples that control for differences between participants in open employment and supported employment in terms of the type of occupation performed, living environment, and functional work ability.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New South Wales, 2005. / Also available online.

Thesis (M.A.) - Carleton University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-102). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.App.Psy.)--University of Waikato, 2007. / Title from PDF cover (viewed May 28, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 108-117)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A qualidade de vida no trabalho é uma questão relevante para diversos campos de conhecimento e intervenção, a saber: saúde do trabalhador, saúde pública, previdência, segurança no trabalho, processos organizacionais, gestão de pessoas, entre outros. A qualidade de vida no trabalho influencia as atitudes e comportamentos dos trabalhadores frente ao mercado de trabalho e ante as empresas das quais fazem parte. A presente pesquisa possui um caráter descritivo e comparativo, tendo como objetivo geral a análise das representações sociais da qualidade de vida no trabalho construídas por trabalhadores das cidades de Juiz de Fora/MG e de Cataguases/MG, relacionando-as aos diferentes contextos e condições de trabalho e de vida cotidiana de tais trabalhadores. Para isso, foram formulados os seguintes objetivos específicos: descrever e analisar a representação social da qualidade vida; descrever e analisar a representação social da qualidade vida no trabalho; investigar a existência de um entrelaçamento entre as representações sociais da qualidade de vida e da qualidade de vida no trabalho; comparar as representações sociais da qualidade de vida no trabalho entre segmentos amostrais definidos por diferentes variáveis sociodemográficas (sexo, faixa etária, tipo de vínculo, segmento de atuação, escolaridade). A fundamentação teórica do estudo consistiu na perspectiva psicossocial das representações sociais, com ênfase sobre a sua abordagem estrutural. Para a coleta de dados foi construído um questionário com questões fechadas e abertas, ao qual foram associadas técnicas de pesquisa específicas da abordagem estrutural das representações sociais, a saber: evocações livres aos termos indutores qualidade de vida e qualidade de vida no trabalho e um questionário de caracterização. Participaram da pesquisa 309 trabalhadores, sendo 232 (75% da amostra) de Juiz de Fora/MG e 77 (25% da amostra) da cidade de Cataguases/MG, pertencentes a diferentes organizações. Os resultados revelam que as cognições constituintes do núcleo central da representação social da qualidade de vida foram saúde, trabalho-emprego e bem-estar e a primeira periferia foi formada pelos elementos: lazer, educação, família, boa vida financeira e moradia. Já a representação social da qualidade de vida no trabalho foi formada pelos elementos centrais: salário, condições de trabalho, respeito e bom ambiente de trabalho. Por outro lado, a primeira periferia foi composta pelos seguintes elementos: reconhecimento e desempenho-eficiência. Verificou-se um forte entrelaçamento entre tais representações mediante a centralidade da categoria trabalho no núcleo central da Representação Social da qualidade de vida. As comparações das representações sociais da qualidade de vida no trabalho entre os segmentos amostrais revelaram diferenças significativas. Somente homens e mulheres demonstraram uma mesma representação. Em relação ao caráter regionalizado da pesquisa, constatou-se que Juiz de Fora e Cataquases são cidades amplamente reconhecidas pela boa qualidade de vida que oferecem. Principalmente Juiz de Fora, em função das suas características provincianas mescladas com a agitação urbana e com a sua estrutura que também se assemelha às grandes capitais. Tais cidades, entretanto, foram criticadas em relação à qualidade das oportunidades profissionais que oferecem e que geram a evasão dos trabalhadores mais qualificados para os grandes centros. / Life quality at work is a relevant question to several fields of knowledge and intervention, namely: workers health, public health, welfare, occupational safety, organizational processes, people management, among others. Life quality at work influences attitudes and behaviors of workers faced with job market and before enterprises they belong to. This research has a descriptive and comparative character, having as general aim the analysis of social representations of life quality composed by workers from the cities of Juiz de Fora/MG and Cataguases/MG, relating them to diverse contexts and work conditions and to the quotidian of such workers. For this, the following specific aims were formulated: describe and analyze social representations of life quality; investigate the existence of an interlacement between social representations of life quality and quality life at work; to compare social representations of quality life at work between samples segments defined by several socialdemographic variables (sex, age, type of bond, actuation segment, schooling). The theoretical basis for the study consisted in the psychosocial perspective of social representations, with emphasis on its structural approach. To collect data a questionnaire was composed with closed and open questions, which were associated specific research techniques to the structural approach of social representations, namely: free evocations inductors to the terms life quality and life quality at work and a characterization questionnaire. 309 workers participated in the survey with 232 (75% of sample) of Juiz de Fora/MG and 77 (25% of the sample) from the city of Cataguases/MG, belonging to different organizations. The results show that the cognitions constituting the core of social representation of life quality were "health", "work-employment" and "welfare" and the first periphery was formed by the "leisure", "education", " family", " good financial life "and" housing ". Whereas social representation of quality life at work was composed by central elements: "salary", "working conditions", "respect" and "good work environment". On the other hand, the first periphery was composed by the following elements: recognition and performance-efficiency. A strong link was verified between these representations through the centrality of the category "work" at the core of the Social Representation of quality life. Comparisons of social representations of life quality at work between sample segments revealed significant differences. Only men and women showed the same representation. In relation to the regionalized character of the research, we found that Juiz de Fora and Cataguases are cities widely recognized by the quality life they offer. Mainly Juiz de Fora, based on its provincial characteristics merged with the urban buzz with its structure that also resembles to the great capitals. Those cities, however, were criticized for the quality of the professional opportunities they offer and that generate the avoidance of more skilled workers to major centers.