International Perspectives on the Meanings of Work and Working: Current Research and Theory: Ardichvili, Alexandre ;Kuchinke, K. Peter
doi: 10.1177/1523422309333494pmid: N/A
The problem and the solution. This article situates the topic of the meaning of work and working in the broader context of social science research and theory and develops a rationale for its importance for the theory and practice of human resource development. Some of the themes, anchoring the content of the following articles, are related to issues of levels of analysis in the research on meaning of working; the need for the integration of different disciplinary traditions (historical, sociological, psychological, economic); the dangers of assuming an overly individualistic position on the subject; the role of meaning of working research in understanding the issues of self-identity; and crises of meaning of working arising from unemployment, lay-offs, and growing poverty around the world.
Changing Meanings of Work in Germany, Korea, and the United States in Historical PerspectivesKuchinke, K. Peter
doi: 10.1177/1523422309332780pmid: N/A
The problem and the solution. The article uses three broad historical eras, preindustrial, industrial, and postindustrial, to investigate similarities and differences in the meaning of working in three countries: Germany, South Korea, and the United States of America. Based on the proposition of meaning as created in an interplay between the individual and the social environment, attention is paid to work as a social institution, and the characteristics of work processes, technologies, and organizations are described. The conclusion identifies common and divergent themes and argues for the importance of historical perspectives for the education and training of human resource development practitioners and the utility of a historical and comparative approach to understanding the meaning of working. Directions for further research are offered at the conclusion of the article.
Meaningfulness, Commitment, and Engagement:The Intersection of a Deeper Level of Intrinsic MotivationChalofsky, Neal; Krishna, Vijay
doi: 10.1177/1523422309333147pmid: N/A
The problem and the solution. The work motivation literature suggests the existence of a level of motivation that goes beyond the commonly known typologies of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The purpose of this article is to explore that deeper level of intrinsic motivation, meaningfulness, and to discuss the connections between meaning of work and meaning at work, represented by the concepts of employee commitment and engagement. This multidimensional approach combines the individual and psychological aspects of work motivation with the contextual and cultural factors that influence employee motivation.
The Changing Meanings of Work in GermanyBorchert, Margret; Landherr, Gerrit
doi: 10.1177/1523422309333762pmid: N/A
The problem and the solution. This article analyzes the changing meaning of work in Germany since the country's reunification in 1990.The theoretical frame of reference for this study is provided by the work of England and colleagues. On this basis, a number of published studies are evaluated and examined with regard to the hypothesis that the meaning of work in Germany is subject to a process change. Current results suggest that it is possible to identify various employees' “value types” and work preferences.The changing meaning of work is especially noticeable among the cohort of young academics and depends on varying labor market situations. Conjoint analysis is suggested to provide new insights into employees' values and preferences in the field of meaning of work.
Work Values and Business Ethics in KoreaCho, Eunsang
doi: 10.1177/1523422309333761pmid: N/A
The problem and the solution. To contribute to the discussion on the meaning of work in Korea, this article starts by reporting findings from a review of Korean literature.The article further presents findings from a survey of both managerial and union members on the perceived importance of core values in the workplace. Among four people-centered core values, human-centered management/human resource development and knowledge sharing were the values preferred by the managerial group. Managers placed more importance on accountability values, among which obedience to the law was significantly emphasized by the managers.With respect to the social responsibility values, the managerial group scored higher for the value of social responsibility, faithful tax payment, and transparency of information disclosure with no significant difference.As to the leadership values, the managerial group's scores were higher for flexibility and capacity for change management, vision formation, and implementation capacity.The article closes with a discussion of the findings, limitations of this research, recommendations for further research, and the practical implications.
The Meaning of Working: A Perspective From PracticeFlesher, Jeff
doi: 10.1177/1523422309333755pmid: N/A
The problem and the solution. This concluding article presents a praxis-based reflection on the applied role of work meaning, its academic research, and the articles presented in this issue. Focusing on issues of convergence and divergence of meaning and the organizational leadership challenges in a global economic and business environment, the article addresses meaning of working issues in human resource development (HRD) and talent management practice. It further explains the role of meaning of working as an important component of professional development in HRD and identifies areas for further research and scholarship.