TY - JOUR
T1 - Empowerment and continuous improvement in the United States, Mexico, Poland, and India
T2 - Predicting fit on the basis of the dimensions of power distance and individualism
AU - Robert, Christopher
AU - Probst, Tahira M.
AU - Martocchio, Joseph J.
AU - Drasgow, Fritz
AU - Lawler, John J.
PY - 2000/10
Y1 - 2000/10
N2 - Although variations in national cultures predominate as explanations for the belief that universal approaches to management do not exist, there have been few reports of systematic studies. Data from employees of a single firm with operations in the United States, Mexico, Poland, and India were used to test the fit of empowerment and continuous improvement practices with national culture. Using the theoretical constructs of individualism-collectivism and power distance, the authors predicted that the practices would be more congruent in some cultures than in others and that value congruence would result in job satisfaction. Using structural equations modeling, the authors found that empowerment was negatively associated with satisfaction in India but positively associated in the other 3 samples. Continuous improvement was positively associated with satisfaction in all samples. Substantive, theoretical, and methodological implications are discussed.
AB - Although variations in national cultures predominate as explanations for the belief that universal approaches to management do not exist, there have been few reports of systematic studies. Data from employees of a single firm with operations in the United States, Mexico, Poland, and India were used to test the fit of empowerment and continuous improvement practices with national culture. Using the theoretical constructs of individualism-collectivism and power distance, the authors predicted that the practices would be more congruent in some cultures than in others and that value congruence would result in job satisfaction. Using structural equations modeling, the authors found that empowerment was negatively associated with satisfaction in India but positively associated in the other 3 samples. Continuous improvement was positively associated with satisfaction in all samples. Substantive, theoretical, and methodological implications are discussed.
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U2 - 10.1037/0021-9010.85.5.643
DO - 10.1037/0021-9010.85.5.643
M3 - Article
C2 - 11055141
AN - SCOPUS:0034297941
SN - 0021-9010
VL - 85
SP - 643
EP - 658
JO - Journal of Applied Psychology
JF - Journal of Applied Psychology
IS - 5
ER -