Perceptions of demotion decisions: A social capital perspective

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd This article examines how demotees and co-workers understand involuntary demotion decisions, using a social capital lens. Drawing on data based on semi-structured in-depth interviews from 23 demotees and 46 co-workers (two co-workers of each demoted worker), we find that the like...

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Main Authors: Hennekam, S., McKenna, Stephen, Richardson, Julia, Ananthram, Subra
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: ELSEVIER SCI LTD 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/80998
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author Hennekam, S.
McKenna, Stephen
Richardson, Julia
Ananthram, Subra
author_facet Hennekam, S.
McKenna, Stephen
Richardson, Julia
Ananthram, Subra
author_sort Hennekam, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © 2019 Elsevier Ltd This article examines how demotees and co-workers understand involuntary demotion decisions, using a social capital lens. Drawing on data based on semi-structured in-depth interviews from 23 demotees and 46 co-workers (two co-workers of each demoted worker), we find that the likelihood of being demoted is determined by several factors. The personal characteristics of the demotee influence three aspects of social capital: 1) the quality of the employee-management relationship, 2) the ability to socialise with other organizational members and 3) visibility in the organization. Our findings contribute to the relational embeddedness perspective of social capital as well the growing body of literature on the dark side of social capital in organizations by showing how a lack of social capital impacts on demotion decisions. Relevant implications for organizations and HR practitioners for utilizing demotion as a HR tool are discussed.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-809982021-01-06T05:53:22Z Perceptions of demotion decisions: A social capital perspective Hennekam, S. McKenna, Stephen Richardson, Julia Ananthram, Subra Social Sciences Business Management Business & Economics Demotion Social capital Cultural capital Workplace relationships Socialization Visibility Decision-making Relational embeddedness Personal characteristics RELATIONAL EMBEDDEDNESS NETWORKS PERFORMANCE MOTIVATION EXCHANGE IMPACT WORK © 2019 Elsevier Ltd This article examines how demotees and co-workers understand involuntary demotion decisions, using a social capital lens. Drawing on data based on semi-structured in-depth interviews from 23 demotees and 46 co-workers (two co-workers of each demoted worker), we find that the likelihood of being demoted is determined by several factors. The personal characteristics of the demotee influence three aspects of social capital: 1) the quality of the employee-management relationship, 2) the ability to socialise with other organizational members and 3) visibility in the organization. Our findings contribute to the relational embeddedness perspective of social capital as well the growing body of literature on the dark side of social capital in organizations by showing how a lack of social capital impacts on demotion decisions. Relevant implications for organizations and HR practitioners for utilizing demotion as a HR tool are discussed. 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/80998 10.1016/j.emj.2019.03.007 English ELSEVIER SCI LTD restricted
spellingShingle Social Sciences
Business
Management
Business & Economics
Demotion
Social capital
Cultural capital
Workplace relationships
Socialization
Visibility
Decision-making
Relational embeddedness
Personal characteristics
RELATIONAL EMBEDDEDNESS
NETWORKS
PERFORMANCE
MOTIVATION
EXCHANGE
IMPACT
WORK
Hennekam, S.
McKenna, Stephen
Richardson, Julia
Ananthram, Subra
Perceptions of demotion decisions: A social capital perspective
title Perceptions of demotion decisions: A social capital perspective
title_full Perceptions of demotion decisions: A social capital perspective
title_fullStr Perceptions of demotion decisions: A social capital perspective
title_full_unstemmed Perceptions of demotion decisions: A social capital perspective
title_short Perceptions of demotion decisions: A social capital perspective
title_sort perceptions of demotion decisions: a social capital perspective
topic Social Sciences
Business
Management
Business & Economics
Demotion
Social capital
Cultural capital
Workplace relationships
Socialization
Visibility
Decision-making
Relational embeddedness
Personal characteristics
RELATIONAL EMBEDDEDNESS
NETWORKS
PERFORMANCE
MOTIVATION
EXCHANGE
IMPACT
WORK
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/80998