International Organizational Behavior-Cultural Differences in Job Characteristics and Job Satisfaction
How do various factors of one’s job contribute to satisfaction in different cultures?
A recent study attempted to answer this question in a survey of over 49 countries. The authors of the study distinguished between intrinsic job characteristics (having a job that allows one to use one’s skills, frequently receiving recognition from one’s supervisor) and extrinsic job characteristics (receiving pay that is competitive within a given industry, working in an environment that has comfortable physical conditions) and assessed differences between the two in predicting employee job satisfaction.
The study found that, across all countries, extrinsic job characteristics were consistently and positively related to satisfaction with one’s job. However, countries differed in the extent to which intrinsic job characteristics predicted job satisfaction. Richer countries, countries with stronger social security, countries that stress individualism rather than collectivism, and countries with a smaller power distance (those that value a more equal distribution of power in organizations and institutions) showed a stronger relationship between the presence of intrinsic job characteristics and job satisfaction.
What explains these findings? One explanation is that in countries with greater wealth and social security, concerns over survival are taken for granted, and thus employees have the freedom to place greater importance on intrinsic aspects of the job. Another explanation is that cultural norms emphasizing the individual and less power asymmetry socialize individuals to focus on the intrinsic aspects of their job. In other words, such norms tell individuals that it is okay to want jobs that are intrinsically rewarding.
Based on X. Huang and E. Van De Vliert, “Where Intrinsic Job Satisfaction Fails to Work: National Moderators of Intrinsic Motivation,” Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2003, pp. 159–179.
For the assignment, use these websites to respond to the questions below:
http://www.executiveplanet.com/index.php?title=Main_Page
http://www.geert-hofstede.com/
http://www.un.org/en/
http://www.oecd.org
http://www.worldbank.org/
http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
http://www.asean.org/22122.htm
1.Select three countries.
2.Compare facts about each of the three countries (People and Economic categories are most significant)
3.Determine which of the three countries is most likely to have higher job satisfaction and motivation among employees. Justify your answer with material from Robbins and Judge.
Successfully completing the assignment:
•To successfully complete this assignment the instructor must be able to clearly identify where the answer for each of the three questions begins and ends. All three questions within this case incident must be completed.
•The minimum page count requirement for this project is two to three pages of body text, this does not include the cover page or the references page.
•Please remember: Grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure and word usage always count!