Unpacking informal contractual relationships: psychological contracts established by Australian business academics

This paper addresses the findings from exploratory research on the content of psychological contracts formed by business academics within an Australian university. The research used a sequential multi-method research design, where focus groups were initially conducted to elicit insights into the con...

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Main Authors: O'Neill, Grant, Krivokapic-Skoko, B., Dowell, D.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Irish Academy of Management 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32943
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author O'Neill, Grant
Krivokapic-Skoko, B.
Dowell, D.
author_facet O'Neill, Grant
Krivokapic-Skoko, B.
Dowell, D.
author_sort O'Neill, Grant
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This paper addresses the findings from exploratory research on the content of psychological contracts formed by business academics within an Australian university. The research used a sequential multi-method research design, where focus groups were initially conducted to elicit insights into the content of the academics’ psychological contracts. A cross-sectional survey was then administered and exploratory factor analysis of the data collected was undertaken. Cluster analysis was used to further examine perceived employer and employee obligations within a university context, and it proved useful as a means of deepening understanding of academics’ psychological contracts, variation among them, and their possible workplace effects. The research identified the existence of quite divergent expectations, interests, motivations and levels of commitment by the academics to the university. It is argued that sensitivity to such variations, and appropriate tailoring of management initiatives and messages, is important if the university is to achieve its goals.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2010
publisher Irish Academy of Management
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-329432017-02-28T01:50:41Z Unpacking informal contractual relationships: psychological contracts established by Australian business academics O'Neill, Grant Krivokapic-Skoko, B. Dowell, D. Academics Employee commitment Psychological contract Professionalism This paper addresses the findings from exploratory research on the content of psychological contracts formed by business academics within an Australian university. The research used a sequential multi-method research design, where focus groups were initially conducted to elicit insights into the content of the academics’ psychological contracts. A cross-sectional survey was then administered and exploratory factor analysis of the data collected was undertaken. Cluster analysis was used to further examine perceived employer and employee obligations within a university context, and it proved useful as a means of deepening understanding of academics’ psychological contracts, variation among them, and their possible workplace effects. The research identified the existence of quite divergent expectations, interests, motivations and levels of commitment by the academics to the university. It is argued that sensitivity to such variations, and appropriate tailoring of management initiatives and messages, is important if the university is to achieve its goals. 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32943 Irish Academy of Management restricted
spellingShingle Academics
Employee commitment
Psychological contract
Professionalism
O'Neill, Grant
Krivokapic-Skoko, B.
Dowell, D.
Unpacking informal contractual relationships: psychological contracts established by Australian business academics
title Unpacking informal contractual relationships: psychological contracts established by Australian business academics
title_full Unpacking informal contractual relationships: psychological contracts established by Australian business academics
title_fullStr Unpacking informal contractual relationships: psychological contracts established by Australian business academics
title_full_unstemmed Unpacking informal contractual relationships: psychological contracts established by Australian business academics
title_short Unpacking informal contractual relationships: psychological contracts established by Australian business academics
title_sort unpacking informal contractual relationships: psychological contracts established by australian business academics
topic Academics
Employee commitment
Psychological contract
Professionalism
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32943