Analyzing the relationship between managers' working pressure and creative behavior from the social network perspective

Developing a tool for disability accommodation complexity: A sequential mixed study

BACKGROUND

For disability accommodation (DA) decision-making/planning processes to unfold successfully, an understanding of the factors influencing DA complexity and a reliable tool for measuring such complexity are needed. The current literature does not provide sufficient knowledge on either topic.

OBJECTIVE

We attempted to explore the factors influencing DA complexity and develop a DA complexity scale in three phases through the sequential mixed approach.

METHOD

The study used an exploratory sequential mixed method in three phases. In phase 1, a qualitative survey of 335 supervisors with recent DA management experience was conducted, and the data were analyzed using a thematic approach to identify and evaluate DA complexity factors. In phase 2, qualitative results were transformed into items to construct a DA complexity scale. Later, the scale was tested using data from a separate quantitative cross-sectional survey of 303 supervisors with recent DA management experience. In phase 3, another quantitative cross-sectional study of 307 supervisors with recent DA management experience to evaluate the validity of the scale and its dimensions.

RESULTS

In Phase 1, we identified 12 factors influencing DA complexity. In Phase 2, the DA complexity scale loaded 29 items in nine dimensions, which represented the factors influencing DA complexity. In Phase 3, DA complexity positively influenced supervisors' job demand and stress, and negatively influenced their work motivation, organizational commitment, and supervisors' perceptions about their relationships with employees with disabilities.

CONCLUSION

This study enriches the DA literature by offering an in-depth understanding of DA complexity and a scale to measure it.

Why serendipitous informal knowledge sharing interactions are key to boundary spanning and creativity

BACKGROUND

Informal Knowledge Sharing Interactions (IKSI) are particularly valuable for innovation projects if they connect partners who are categorically, socially and formally distant from each other. Then the chances are higher that partners possess non-redundant knowledge and can thus open up new perspectives. By improving their knowledge supply, IKSI enhance the success, job satisfaction and well-being of employees in knowledge-intensive industries. So far, however, it is unclear how such interactions between heterogeneous partners emerge.

OBJECTIVE

The paper examines the formation of IKSI and develops the argument that serendipitous IKSI are more likely than planned IKSI to connect heterogeneous partners and open up new perspectives.

METHODS

The paper develops the argument in detail and empirically grounded by drawing together the unconnected literatures on the formation and impact of IKSI. Furthermore, the argument is empirically tested using 132 IKSI from developers collected with event-based diaries.

RESULTS

In line with the conceptual work, the empirical analysis shows that serendipitous IKSI are more likely than planned ones to open up new perspectives.

CONCLUSION

Serendipitous IKSI are of particular significance and require appropriate promotion in order to enhance innovative capability. The increasing virtualization of work is creating opportunities and challenges in this regard.