Psychological contract experience of survivor first-line managers during organisational downsizing: the mediating influence of culture in Nigeria
Authors
Uchenna, Christian ObiIssue Date
2015-06Subjects
psychological contractN220 Institutional Management
survivor
organisation
downsizing
culture
experiences
responses
breaches
Nigeria
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Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of breaches psychological contract on survivor first-line managers during organisational downsizing in Nigeria. Secondly, the influence of national culture on their responses to such perceived breaches Literature: Psychological contract PC is an important concept in understanding work relationships, and the obvious impact the construt has on organisational outcomes (Zhao et al., 2007). It is described as a mental model or schema which helps individuals to understand and interprete employment relationships (Rousseau, 1989). The study of PC has increased in recent times because of increasing emphasis on lean management or cost cutting which usually result in perception of breach (Datta et al., 2010). In the past, researches on psychological contract have focused on the understanding of the conditions under which perception of breach arise; the conditions under which perceptions of breach are stronger or weaker; and the conditions that mediate the effects and feeling of breach (Zhao et al., 2007). Most studies on PC have focussed on victims and have been carried out in western context (Sronce and McKinley, 2006; Sparrow, 1998). Researchers have therefore advocated the need for a research to be carried in a non-western context as cognition and perception of PC is said to be influenced by culture. This informed the focus of this investigation, and to focus on survivor-managerial employees because paucity of research on survivors in Nigeria. Research Methodology: The research study adopted a qualitative approach using one-to-one interviews. The data were collected in two staged interviews process. The first started with review of extant literature in the subject area. Semi-structured interviews were used to interview seven participants of managerial cadre who survived downsizing exercise. The second stage equally employed Semi-structured interviews with identified survivor managers. In this stage 13 interviews were conducted. The two stages are complimentary in order to deepen knowledge and gain insight into lived experiences of surviving managers and how culture influences their attitudinal behaviours during downsizing. All data were analysed inductively using interpretative phenomenological analysis IPA Findings: Findings from this study had shown that emotional/psychological experiences and feelings such as anxiety, uncertainty, job insecurity, reduced motivation, and reduced effort/productivity as well as intention to leave experienced by survivor managerial employees consistent with findings from Anglo-American cultures are not cultural bound. The findings indicate that, although managerial survivors were unhappy and dissatisfied with events in the workplace, their work-related attitudes and behavioural responses such as commitment & loyalty were positive. This positive attitudinal response is said to be mediated or influenced by societal cultural values like religious beliefs, extended family obligations, the value of dependency, faith in God, spirituality and high level of unemployment. The findings also indicate the valence of religious beliefs, and faith in God when survivor employees face unforeseen, difficult and unpleasant situations including downsizing in Nigeria.Citation
Uchenna, C. (2015) 'Psychological Contract Experience of Survivor First-line Managers during Organisational Downsizing The Mediating Influence of Culture in Nigeria'. MPhil thesis. University of BedfordshirePublisher
University of BedfordshireType
Thesis or dissertationLanguage
enDescription
This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of PhilosophyCollections
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