Employee commitment : the motivational role of senior management theory of action

Cooper, DJ

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the association between senior management
theory-of-action and employee commitment.
Field research uses quantitative and qualitative method and concentrates on one
medium sized UK based organisation for data collection and experimentation.
However, the study examines two further organisations to assist validity and
specificity of findings.
The written work is in six parts. Following an introductory chapter, chapter two
contains a literature survey covering organisational purpose and senior
management theory-of-action. Chapter three examines literature as to employee
commitment, and personal and organisational values. The fourth chapter describes
method. Field work in chapter five provides results arising from quantitative and
qualitative research. The concluding chapter considers the extent to which
findings should be generalised, and offers conclusions and reflection.
The study points to the following conclusions:
Field research supports the notion that compared with more conventional
motivation factors, senior management employee related action is strongly
associated with employee commitment. This finding was found to be
especially prominent at lower hierarchical levels within the organisation.
The adoption of what is termed conventional 'Model-One' theory-of-action
adversely affects employee commitment.
It is suggested that senior management theory-of-action can inhibit or
facilitate the maintenance and growth of employee commitment.
The work provides credence as to the importance and strength of association
between senior management theory-of-action and employee commitment, and offers a method by which the association can be tested.

Citation

Cooper, D. Employee commitment : the motivational role of senior management theory of action. (Thesis). University of Salford, UK

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jun 26, 2009
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 26, 2009
• Award Date: Feb 1, 2001