Discussion: View Thread

Hello,

I'm looking for literature (esp. theory) on 'perceptual differences' on
what constitutes a good working environment between bosses and employees
- especially differences/similarities on the factors that are important
for recruiting and retaining employees.

Is somebody aware of theories/articles/research/cases on this topic?

You can email me at lmoratis@fbk.eur.nl.

Thanks and regards,
Lars Moratis
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Rotterdam School of Management

From: Mansfield Elkind [mailto:melkind@mindtech3.com]

Hi Lars,

A very useful book is called "First, Break All the Rules." It's based on
in depth interviews of 80,000 managers (CEO's down to supervisors) in
over 400 companies from around the world. It links employee opinions
with employee retention, productivity, profit and customer satisfaction.
It was done by the Gallup Organization.

I hope this helps.

Manny

Manny Elkind
Mindtech, Inc.
35 Williams Road
Sharon, MA 02067
Tel: 781-784-2315
Fax: 781-784-4764
E-mail: melkind@mindtech3.com
Website:www.mindtech3.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Management Education and Development Discussion
[mailto:MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU] On Behalf Of Lars Moratis
Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2004 5:18 AM
To: MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Subject: Perceptual differences

Hello,

I'm looking for literature (esp. theory) on 'perceptual differences' on
what constitutes a good working environment between bosses and employees
- especially differences/similarities on the factors that are important
for recruiting and retaining employees.

Is somebody aware of theories/articles/research/cases on this topic?

You can email me at lmoratis@fbk.eur.nl.

Thanks and regards,
Lars Moratis
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Rotterdam School of Management

The Gallup findings are valuable. Also, Frederick Herzberg, U. of Utah, has
offered keen insights into this situation. My summary of his considerable
writings is:
Motivation Factors

Direct Feedback

Client Relationship

Psychological Growth

Scheduling One's Own Work

Unique Expertise

Responsibility For Costs

Authority For Direct Communication

Personal Accountability



Hygene Factors

Pleasant work environment

Good cafeteria

Pleasant co-workers

Company policy and administration; especially communication

etc.



Management's Job



The Hygene Factors are orthogonal to the Motivation Factors. Management
must keep the Hygene Factors from becoming too negative but employee
satisfaction is not maximized by making the Hygene Factors better and
better. Rather, keep the Hygene Factors from negatively interfering while
maximizing the Motivation Factors.



----- Original Message -----
[..]
>
> Hello,
>
> I'm looking for literature (esp. theory) on 'perceptual differences' on
> what constitutes a good working environment between bosses and employees
> - especially differences/similarities on the factors that are important
> for recruiting and retaining employees.
>
> Is somebody aware of theories/articles/research/cases on this topic?
>
> You can email me at lmoratis@fbk.eur.nl.
>
> Thanks and regards,
> Lars Moratis
> Erasmus University Rotterdam
> Rotterdam School of Management
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of MG-ED-DV Digest - 28 Mar 2004 to 7 Apr 2004 (#2004-52)
> *************************************************************
>
>

I think you'll find the job conditions fitting into
the two categories of Herzberg's theoretical framework
will vary considerably depending upon local economic
conditions and across cultures. See, for example, the
working paper by Selmer and Littrell at
http://www.romielittrellpubs.homestead.com/

--- Jack Ring <jring@amug.org> wrote: > The Gallup
findings are valuable. Also, Frederick
> Herzberg, U. of Utah, has
> offered keen insights into this situation. My
> summary of his considerable
> writings is:
> Motivation Factors
>
> Direct Feedback
>
> Client Relationship
>
> Psychological Growth
>
> Scheduling One's Own Work
>
> Unique Expertise
>
> Responsibility For Costs
>
> Authority For Direct Communication
>
> Personal Accountability
>
>
>
> Hygene Factors
>
> Pleasant work environment
>
> Good cafeteria
>
> Pleasant co-workers
>
> Company policy and administration; especially
> communication
>
> etc.
>
>
>
> Management's Job
>
>
>
> The Hygene Factors are orthogonal to the Motivation
> Factors. Management
> must keep the Hygene Factors from becoming too
> negative but employee
> satisfaction is not maximized by making the Hygene
> Factors better and
> better. Rather, keep the Hygene Factors from
> negatively interfering while
> maximizing the Motivation Factors.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> [..]
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm looking for literature (esp. theory) on
> 'perceptual differences' on
> > what constitutes a good working environment
> between bosses and employees
> > - especially differences/similarities on the
> factors that are important
> > for recruiting and retaining employees.
> >
> > Is somebody aware of
> theories/articles/research/cases on this topic?
> >
> > You can email me at lmoratis@fbk.eur.nl.
> >
> > Thanks and regards,
> > Lars Moratis
> > Erasmus University Rotterdam
> > Rotterdam School of Management
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > End of MG-ED-DV Digest - 28 Mar 2004 to 7 Apr 2004
> (#2004-52)
> >
>
*************************************************************
> >
> >

=====
Prof. Romie F. Littrell, Ph.D.
Facutly of Business, Auckland University of Technology
Private Bag 1020
Auckland 1020, New Zealand
Fax (64) 9 - 917 -9629
http://www.romielittrellpubs.homestead.com/
http://www.crossculturalcentre.homestead.com/

Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! Movies.
http://au.movies.yahoo.com

Lars wrote in part:
> I'm looking for literature (esp. theory) on 'perceptual differences' on
> what constitutes a good working environment between bosses and employees
> - especially differences/similarities on the factors that are important
> for recruiting and retaining employees.
>
> Is somebody aware of theories/articles/research/cases on this topic?

I suggest that you check out an article from Harvard Business Review: "One
More Time: How Do You MOtivate Employees?" by Frederick Herzberg. This
classic suggest that what employees value most is challenging work, not
just money. This was recently re-published, but first appeared in 1968!

In addition, there is solid research to support this, repeated over several
decades. See "What Motivates Employees: Workers and Supervisors Give
Different Answers" by Kovach. Published in Business Horizons in about
August 1987.

Michael A

Michael Ayers
mbayers@earthlink.net <=> www.TheCommonwealthPractice.com
-> Sometimes the right question is:
Are we asking the right question? <-

From The Clerk's Tale: Gladly would he learn and gladly teach ...

Keep in mind that both Herzberg's two-factor theory and his critical
incident methodology were highly controversial. For years Steers and
Porter's popular motivation text suggested that the best thing about
Herzberg's theory was that it was so bad it stimulated interest in coming up
with something better. Steers, Porter and Bigley (1996) say that,
"Herzberg's theory... has five different theoretical interpretations and
that the available research evidence is not entirely consistent with any of
these interpretations... a number of scholars believe the model does not
give sufficient attention to individual differences... Finally, research has
generally failed to support the existence of two independent factors... It
is interesting that, despite the voluminous criticism leveled against the
model, Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory is still popular among
managers." (pp. 17-18).

Larry Pate


-----Original Message-----
From: Management Education and Development Discussion
[mailto:MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael Ayers
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2004 8:24 AM
To: MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Subject: Re: Perceptual differences


Lars wrote in part:
> I'm looking for literature (esp. theory) on 'perceptual differences'
> on what constitutes a good working environment between bosses and
> employees
> - especially differences/similarities on the factors that are important
> for recruiting and retaining employees.
>
> Is somebody aware of theories/articles/research/cases on this topic?

I suggest that you check out an article from Harvard Business Review: "One
More Time: How Do You MOtivate Employees?" by Frederick Herzberg. This
classic suggest that what employees value most is challenging work, not just
money. This was recently re-published, but first appeared in 1968!

In addition, there is solid research to support this, repeated over several
decades. See "What Motivates Employees: Workers and Supervisors Give
Different Answers" by Kovach. Published in Business Horizons in about
August 1987.

Michael A

Michael Ayers
mbayers@earthlink.net <=> www.TheCommonwealthPractice.com
-> Sometimes the right question is:
Are we asking the right question? <-

>From The Clerk's Tale: Gladly would he learn and gladly teach ...