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Work Behaviour (work + behaviour)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences28%
Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting28%

Selected Abstracts

A Look Back to Move Ahead: New Directions for Research on Proactive Performance and Other Discretionary Work Behaviours

APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Doris Fay
Over the last two decades, the multi-dimensional notion of job performance has been fully brought to life. The differentiation between core task performance and various aspects of discretionary work behaviour is now commonly applied. A multitude of empirical studies, enhancing our knowledge of the antecedents and consequences of the different performance aspects, have recently been summarised through various meta-analyses. We use this as an occasion for taking stock in order to identify new areas of theorising and empirical research. Focusing in particular on proactive performance aspects, the present paper identifies three themes that could inspire new research and model development. We suggest taking a new approach to the treatment of time in order to account for the dynamic nature of performance on the one hand, and to consider life-span changes on the other, developing comprehensive models on proactivity-enhancing interventions, and more strongly incorporating a cross-cultural perspective. Durant les deux dernières décennies, la notion multidimensionnelle de performance au travail a été portée sur le devant de la scène. La différence entre la performance centrale dans la tâche et divers aspects de la conduite intentionnelle au travail est désormais entrée dans les esprits. Une multitude d'études empiriques qui enrichissent nos connaissances sur les antécédents et les conséquences des multiples facettes de la performance ont récemment été globalisées dans plusieurs méta-analyses. Nous les exploitons afin d'ouvrir de nouveaux champs recherches théoriques et empiriques. En se focalisant en particulier sur les dimensions proactives de la performance, cet article identifie trois thèmes qui pourraient inspirer de nouvelles recherches et favoriser le développement de nouveaux modèles. On propose de traiter le temps différemment afin de prendre en compte d'une part le caractère dynamique de la performance et d'autre part les changements au cours de la vie, de développer des modèles exhaustifs des interventions améliorant la proactivité, et d'intégrer plus étroitement la perspective transculturelle. [source]

Paleopathology and health of native and introduced animals on Southern Peruvian and Bolivian Spanish Colonial sites

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 5 2010
S. D. Defrance
Abstract Spanish colonial sites in southern Peru and Bolivia contain remains of native camelids and introduced bovids with examples of degenerative paleopathologies that are interpreted as reflecting changes in herd management, animal use and animal health following the Spanish conquest. The archaeological contexts include three Spanish colonial wineries from Moquegua in southern Peru and the nearby colonial village of Torata Alta where indigenous people were forced to resettle under Spanish control. Also from Peru is faunal material from the 14th to 16th century rural agropastoral village of Pillistay located near Camana. Animal remains with bone abnormalities are also present in residential, commercial and industrial sites associated with Spanish silver mining near Potosí, Bolivia at Tarapaya and Cruz Pampa. Eighteen pathological specimens are described including examples of degenerative changes to phalanges, vertebrae, tarsals, limb elements and ribs. Paleopathologies present include exostoses, osteophytes, porosity, grooving and eburnation. Examples of phalangeal exostoses on bovid phalanges indicate the use of these introduced animals as draught cattle. Exostoses on camelid first phalanges suggests their use as cargo animals as do thoracic vertebrae with severe cases of degenerative pathology. Introduced caprines contain few pathologies indicating their primary use as food animals. The bone abnormalities from colonial sites are more severe than those reported for prehispanic faunal assemblages. These data provide insights into the health and work behaviour of indigenous Andean camelids and introduced Eurasian animals following the Spanish conquest. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

A Look Back to Move Ahead: New Directions for Research on Proactive Performance and Other Discretionary Work Behaviours

APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Doris Fay
Over the last two decades, the multi-dimensional notion of job performance has been fully brought to life. The differentiation between core task performance and various aspects of discretionary work behaviour is now commonly applied. A multitude of empirical studies, enhancing our knowledge of the antecedents and consequences of the different performance aspects, have recently been summarised through various meta-analyses. We use this as an occasion for taking stock in order to identify new areas of theorising and empirical research. Focusing in particular on proactive performance aspects, the present paper identifies three themes that could inspire new research and model development. We suggest taking a new approach to the treatment of time in order to account for the dynamic nature of performance on the one hand, and to consider life-span changes on the other, developing comprehensive models on proactivity-enhancing interventions, and more strongly incorporating a cross-cultural perspective. Durant les deux dernières décennies, la notion multidimensionnelle de performance au travail a été portée sur le devant de la scène. La différence entre la performance centrale dans la tâche et divers aspects de la conduite intentionnelle au travail est désormais entrée dans les esprits. Une multitude d'études empiriques qui enrichissent nos connaissances sur les antécédents et les conséquences des multiples facettes de la performance ont récemment été globalisées dans plusieurs méta-analyses. Nous les exploitons afin d'ouvrir de nouveaux champs recherches théoriques et empiriques. En se focalisant en particulier sur les dimensions proactives de la performance, cet article identifie trois thèmes qui pourraient inspirer de nouvelles recherches et favoriser le développement de nouveaux modèles. On propose de traiter le temps différemment afin de prendre en compte d'une part le caractère dynamique de la performance et d'autre part les changements au cours de la vie, de développer des modèles exhaustifs des interventions améliorant la proactivité, et d'intégrer plus étroitement la perspective transculturelle. [source]

EFFECTS OF A CHILD'S DISABILITY ON AFFECTED FEMALE'S LABOUR SUPPLY IN AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC PAPERS, Issue 3 2010
ZENG-HUA LU
Australia has experienced a growing rate of child disability, with the rate of 3.7 per cent in 1998 increasing to 4.3 per cent in 2003 for children aged under four years and from 9.5 per cent to 10 per cent for children aged five to 14 years in the same period. However, surprisingly no study has examined the economic effects of child disability in the Australian context. This paper attempts to quantify the link between a child's disability and the work behaviour of the female in the affected family. Our findings provide empirical justifications for the current policy linking the severity level of child disability to the assessment of eligibility for Carer Payment (Child). We also found that child disability has different impacts on the labour market activities of married women and non-married women. It appears that child disability imposes a greater hardship on non-married women than on married women in terms of work choice decision. Once non-married women manage to enter the labour force, they may have to stay on to work as usual even if they have a disabled child, because they may not have other family members to turn to for help as married women do. [source]

Proactivity Directed Toward the Team and Organization: The Role of Leadership, Commitment and Role-breadth Self-efficacy

BRITISH JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2009
Karoline Strauss
Employees' proactive behaviour is increasingly important for organizations seeking to adapt in uncertain economic environments. This study examined the link between leadership and proactive behaviour. We differentiated between organizational leadership and team leadership and proposed that transformational leadership by team leaders would enhance commitment to the team, which would predict team member proactivity. In contrast, transformational leadership by leaders of the organization would enhance commitment to the organization, which we expected to predict organization member proactivity. Transformational leadership on both levels was expected to increase employees' role-breadth self-efficacy, the confidence necessary to engage in proactive behaviour. Our results demonstrate the importance of leadership as an antecedent of proactive work behaviour and suggest that leadership at different levels influences proactivity via different mediators. Transformational team leaders seem to facilitate proactivity by increasing employees' confidence to initiate change. Transformational organizational leaders on the other hand increase proactivity by enhancing employees' commitment to the organization. [source]

Efficacy beliefs predict collaborative practice among intensive care unit nurses

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 3 2010
Pascale M. Le Blanc
le blanc p.m., schaufeli w.b., salanova m., llorens s. & nap r.e. (2010) Efficacy beliefs predict collaborative practice among intensive care unit nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 583,594. Abstract Aim., This paper is a report of an investigation of whether intensive care nurses' efficacy beliefs predict future collaborative practice, and to test the potential mediating role of team commitment in this relationship. Background., Recent empirical studies in the field of work and organizational psychology have demonstrated that (professional) efficacy beliefs are reciprocally related to workers' resources and well-being over time, resulting in a positive gain spiral. Moreover, there is ample evidence that workers' affective commitment to their organization or work-team is related to desirable work behaviours such as citizenship behaviour. Methods., A longitudinal design was applied to questionnaire data from the EURICUS-project. Structural Equation Modelling was used to analyse the data. The sample consisted of 372 nurses working in 29 different European intensive care units. Data were collected in 1997 and 1998. However, our research model deals with fundamental psychosocial processes that are not time-dependent. Moreover, recent empirical literature shows that there is still room for improvement in ICU collaborative practice. Results., The hypotheses that (i) the relationship between efficacy beliefs and collaborative practice is mediated by team commitment and (ii) efficacy beliefs, team commitment and collaborative practice are reciprocally related were supported, suggesting a potential positive gain spiral of efficacy beliefs. Conclusion., Healthcare organizations should create working environments that provide intensive care unit nurses with sufficient resources to perform their job well. Further research is needed to design and evaluate interventions for the enhancement of collaborative practice in intensive care units. [source]

Empowerment, engagement and perceived effectiveness in nursing work environments: does experience matter?

JOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 5 2009
HEATHER K. SPENCE LASCHINGER RN
Aims, We examined the impact of empowering work conditions on nurses' work engagement and effectiveness, and compared differences among these relationships in new graduates and experienced nurses. Background, As many nurses near retirement, every effort is needed to retain nurses and to ensure that work environments are attractive to new nurses. Experience in the profession and generational differences may affect how important work factors interact to affect work behaviours. Methods, We conducted a secondary analysis of survey data from two studies and compared the pattern of relationships among study variables in two groups: 185 nurses 2 years post-graduation and 294 nurses with more than 2 years of experience. Results, A multi-group SEM analysis indicated a good fit of the hypothesized model. Work engagement significantly mediated the empowerment/effectiveness relationship in both groups, although the impact of engagement on work effectiveness was significantly stronger for experienced nurses. Conclusions, Engagement is an important mechanism by which empowerment affects nurses feelings of effectiveness but less important to new graduates' feelings of work effectiveness than empowerment. Implications for nursing management, Managers must be aware of the role of empowerment in promoting work engagement and effectiveness and differential effects on new graduates and more seasoned nurses. [source]