This thesis integrates the cognitive modelling perspective into the literature on organizational slack by developing and validating a questionnaire-based instrument which measures managers’ attitudes towards slack resources. The literature is deeply polarized regarding the role played by slack in organizations. Researchers debate whether organizational slack is a sure sign of inefficiency in the workplace or a necessary cost to enhance the competitiveness of firms. Empirical studies have not been able to resolve this conceptual debate as the results are highly diverse. In order to explain conflicting empirical findings, scholars have made untested assumptions about the interaction between organizational slack and managerial psychology. However, despite repeated calls, managerial cognition regarding organizational slack remains a black box in empirical studies. This thesis addresses this shortfall in the literature by developing a new measurement instrument which reveals managers’ attitudes towards slack resources. The instrument, i.e. the Attitudes Towards Slack Resources Questionnaire (ATSRQ), consists of three five-item subscales reflecting attitudes towards HR, financial, and physical slack and a combined higher-order scale measuring overall attitudes towards slack. It is developed and validated by means of a rigorous and systematic paradigm. The psychometric properties of the ATSRQ are assessed with five empirical studies which provide evidence for the internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and criterion-related validity of the ATSRQ. Results of the empirical studies suggest that managers’ attitudes towards slack resources are related to some key organizational phenomena, such as managers’ trust in employees. The results also reveal that managerial attitudes towards slack resources predict various employee-related outcomes, including leader-member exchange, perceived organizational support, work autonomy, access to resources, and decision latitude. The thesis concludes with a discussion of results, as well as limitations and future research directions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:737760 |
| Date | January 2018 |
| Creators | Cakir, M. Selim |
| Publisher | University of Warwick |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/98837/ |
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