South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, Ahead of Print.
The immediate establishment of ‘a new normal’ in response to the present global crisis made leaders relook into the well-being of their employees through a new lens. Hence, promoting empowering leadership in any organisation to attain employee well-being became the key to surviving the detrimental impact of endangered organisational productivity. In line with two promising theories (social exchange and social learning), we proposed to join empowering leadership and employee well-being through activity-enhancing, opportunity-enhancing, motivation-enhancing, work–life balance-enhancing and voice-enhancing related human resources management (HRM) practices. A two-phase exploratory sequential mixed-method process was designed to identify and analyse the role of HRM practices on promoting well-being during the onset of the new normal. Results of the multi-mediation model conducted on 328 executives of private banks in eastern India—demonstrated participative decision-making as a rewarding impact of autonomy and freedom. It highlighted achieving employee well-being as a flow experience. Our findings propose the techno-functionality of empowering leadership in redefining the holistic concept of well-being for socio-tropic continents like India, which may help establish actual well-being as a panacea to evolving work lives.
Category Archives: South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management
Peer Review Excellence Award Winners
South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, Volume 10, Issue 1, Page 171-171, June 2023.
James M. Kouzes & Barry Z. Posner, Leadership in Higher Education: Practices That Make a Difference. Berret-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2019, 208 pp., $18.99, ISBN 9781523087006.
South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, Ahead of Print.
Authentic Leadership, Future Prospects and Affective Commitment in Early Career Employees—A Mediation Model
South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, Ahead of Print.
Even as the great resignation unfolds, turnover among early-career employees is well documented in research. Compared to their mid- and late-career counterparts, early-career professionals are more likely to need support from supervisors and opportunities for intra-organisational growth. Similarly, early career professionals are more likely to prefer mobility and exploration of career opportunities. Therefore, mechanisms to enhance affective commitment of early-career professionals become salient. Accordingly, using a sample of 206 early-career construction professionals from India, this research examined the relationship between authentic leadership and affective commitment. Further, future prospects were tested as a mediating mechanism between these two variables. PLS-SEM was employed for analysis. Our hypotheses were supported. Specifically, it was found that authentic leadership has a positive influence on future prospects and affective commitment. Further, future prospects are positively associated with affective commitment. Finally, future prospects fully mediate the relationship between authentic leadership and affective commitment. Implications for research and practice are discussed, and limitations are acknowledged.
Even as the great resignation unfolds, turnover among early-career employees is well documented in research. Compared to their mid- and late-career counterparts, early-career professionals are more likely to need support from supervisors and opportunities for intra-organisational growth. Similarly, early career professionals are more likely to prefer mobility and exploration of career opportunities. Therefore, mechanisms to enhance affective commitment of early-career professionals become salient. Accordingly, using a sample of 206 early-career construction professionals from India, this research examined the relationship between authentic leadership and affective commitment. Further, future prospects were tested as a mediating mechanism between these two variables. PLS-SEM was employed for analysis. Our hypotheses were supported. Specifically, it was found that authentic leadership has a positive influence on future prospects and affective commitment. Further, future prospects are positively associated with affective commitment. Finally, future prospects fully mediate the relationship between authentic leadership and affective commitment. Implications for research and practice are discussed, and limitations are acknowledged.
Leveraging from Home: A Qualitative Study Examining Indian Nurses’ Job Demand Management during the Pandemic
South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, Ahead of Print.
In this qualitative study spread across three Indian states—Assam, Kerala and Maharashtra, we explore how 13 Indian staff nurses working full time in the first wave of the COVID pandemic cope with the increased job demands and perceived psychological contract breaches (PCB) from a work−home resources (W−HR) perspective. The study utilises the W−HR model as a theoretical lens to analyse the nurses’ lived experiences through a phenomenological approach. We could observe that a significant black swan event such as the pandemic can trigger resource depletion at work and home and materialise in PCB at work for the nurses. Nurses then resort to sensemaking to tide over the pandemic-affected work circumstances by balancing contextual demands and personal resources. By integrating PCB experienced by these nurses via a W−HR model framework, we address calls by researchers to understand how psychological contracts change over time.
In this qualitative study spread across three Indian states—Assam, Kerala and Maharashtra, we explore how 13 Indian staff nurses working full time in the first wave of the COVID pandemic cope with the increased job demands and perceived psychological contract breaches (PCB) from a work−home resources (W−HR) perspective. The study utilises the W−HR model as a theoretical lens to analyse the nurses’ lived experiences through a phenomenological approach. We could observe that a significant black swan event such as the pandemic can trigger resource depletion at work and home and materialise in PCB at work for the nurses. Nurses then resort to sensemaking to tide over the pandemic-affected work circumstances by balancing contextual demands and personal resources. By integrating PCB experienced by these nurses via a W−HR model framework, we address calls by researchers to understand how psychological contracts change over time.
The Role of Personal and Contextual Resources on the Relationship Between Soul at Work and Discerning Millennial Employees
South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, Ahead of Print.
In this study, the influence of soul at work on discerning millennial employees was analysed, keeping in mind the newer workforce and less paid attention to the nurturance of their soul and discernment. This article also studies and investigates the mediating and moderating roles of personal and contextual resources. 624 respondents (367 office and 257 online) were interviewed working as executives in manufacturing and service industries (public and private) from eastern and northern India. Data was gathered using a cross-sectional study, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to study the hypothesis. The findings indicated a relationship between soul at work and discerning millennial employees. The impact of meditation and moderation was also found in this relationship. The study adds to the literature on the soul at work by combining it with discerning millennial employees, demonstrating its uniqueness and importance for the desired outcome. This research explains unique results with meaningful discussion and practical suggestions derived from the data.
In this study, the influence of soul at work on discerning millennial employees was analysed, keeping in mind the newer workforce and less paid attention to the nurturance of their soul and discernment. This article also studies and investigates the mediating and moderating roles of personal and contextual resources. 624 respondents (367 office and 257 online) were interviewed working as executives in manufacturing and service industries (public and private) from eastern and northern India. Data was gathered using a cross-sectional study, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to study the hypothesis. The findings indicated a relationship between soul at work and discerning millennial employees. The impact of meditation and moderation was also found in this relationship. The study adds to the literature on the soul at work by combining it with discerning millennial employees, demonstrating its uniqueness and importance for the desired outcome. This research explains unique results with meaningful discussion and practical suggestions derived from the data.
Green Human Resource Management and Employee Green Behaviour: Participation and Involvement, and Training and Development as Moderators
South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, Ahead of Print.
The current study is aimed at exploring the effect of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices on employee green behaviour (EGB). We conducted this research in the context of one of the countries in the South Asian sub-continent, India. First, we developed a conceptual model based on the ability, motivation, and opportunity (AMO) framework and Social Identity Theory (SIT). Then, we tested the model with data collected from 191 faculty members in higher educational institutions in southern India. We first checked the instrument’s psychometric properties and tested the hypotheses using hierarchical regression. The results indicate that: (a) green recruitment strategies (GRS), green institutional initiatives (GII), and green performance management and appraisal (GPMA) positively impact EGB; and (b) EGB is positively related to employee green compensation and rewards (EGCR). The results also reveal that employee green participation and involvement (EGPI) and employee green training and development (EGTD) moderate the relationship between GRS, GII, GPMA, and EGB. The motivation stems from the need for present-day organisations to focus on a green environment and contribute to sustainability. The role of GHRM practices in stimulating employees to exhibit green behaviour is highlighted. The implications for GHRM theory and practice are discussed.
The current study is aimed at exploring the effect of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices on employee green behaviour (EGB). We conducted this research in the context of one of the countries in the South Asian sub-continent, India. First, we developed a conceptual model based on the ability, motivation, and opportunity (AMO) framework and Social Identity Theory (SIT). Then, we tested the model with data collected from 191 faculty members in higher educational institutions in southern India. We first checked the instrument’s psychometric properties and tested the hypotheses using hierarchical regression. The results indicate that: (a) green recruitment strategies (GRS), green institutional initiatives (GII), and green performance management and appraisal (GPMA) positively impact EGB; and (b) EGB is positively related to employee green compensation and rewards (EGCR). The results also reveal that employee green participation and involvement (EGPI) and employee green training and development (EGTD) moderate the relationship between GRS, GII, GPMA, and EGB. The motivation stems from the need for present-day organisations to focus on a green environment and contribute to sustainability. The role of GHRM practices in stimulating employees to exhibit green behaviour is highlighted. The implications for GHRM theory and practice are discussed.
Examining Factor Structure and Validity of Psychological Capital and Its Relationship with Learning Orientation
South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, Ahead of Print.
This study aims to empirically examine the factor structure and validity of psychological capital in the Indian context. Further, it also examines the linkage of psychological capital with learning orientation. A quantitative methodology was adopted, and data were collected using a questionnaire from 700 employees of public sector research organisations, information and communication technology companies, and academic universities and colleges in India. The findings reveal that psychological capital construct has a four-factor second-order structure and a synergetic effect on outcomes, and its four factors are related but distinct constructs. The findings also confirm that psychological capital has significant positive influence on the learning orientation of members of the organisation. Further, the level of psychological capital was found to vary across gender, age, work experience and executive level but not with qualification. This research will add into theory a detailed understanding about psychological capital and its relationship with learning orientation. The findings suggest that management should emphasise on preparing psychological capital interventions and trainings based on specific target groups in order to gain sustainable competitive advantage.
This study aims to empirically examine the factor structure and validity of psychological capital in the Indian context. Further, it also examines the linkage of psychological capital with learning orientation. A quantitative methodology was adopted, and data were collected using a questionnaire from 700 employees of public sector research organisations, information and communication technology companies, and academic universities and colleges in India. The findings reveal that psychological capital construct has a four-factor second-order structure and a synergetic effect on outcomes, and its four factors are related but distinct constructs. The findings also confirm that psychological capital has significant positive influence on the learning orientation of members of the organisation. Further, the level of psychological capital was found to vary across gender, age, work experience and executive level but not with qualification. This research will add into theory a detailed understanding about psychological capital and its relationship with learning orientation. The findings suggest that management should emphasise on preparing psychological capital interventions and trainings based on specific target groups in order to gain sustainable competitive advantage.
Desperate Times, Desperate Measures: Exploring the Dark Side of Job Embeddedness During COVID-19 Pandemic
South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, Ahead of Print.
Drawing upon the conservation of resource (COR) theory, the purpose of the article is to explore how the two dimensions of job insecurity, that is, quantitative, and qualitative insecurity relate to unethical pro-organisational behaviour (UPB). The study further aims to investigate if job embeddedness moderates the relationship between two forms of insecurity and UPB. The hypotheses were tested with three wave survey data collected from 354 employees during the period of strict lockdown in India when all the employees were working from home. The main and interaction effects were analysed with regression analysis on PROCESS v 3.0 macro. Quantitative job insecurity was seen to influence UPB positively, whereas no significant relation was found between qualitative insecurity and UPB. The two dimensions of job insecurity and UPB were moderated by job embeddedness such that the association was greater for employees who were more embedded. The results point towards the ‘dark side’ of embeddedness which may have deleterious effects for the organisation in the form of UPB.
Drawing upon the conservation of resource (COR) theory, the purpose of the article is to explore how the two dimensions of job insecurity, that is, quantitative, and qualitative insecurity relate to unethical pro-organisational behaviour (UPB). The study further aims to investigate if job embeddedness moderates the relationship between two forms of insecurity and UPB. The hypotheses were tested with three wave survey data collected from 354 employees during the period of strict lockdown in India when all the employees were working from home. The main and interaction effects were analysed with regression analysis on PROCESS v 3.0 macro. Quantitative job insecurity was seen to influence UPB positively, whereas no significant relation was found between qualitative insecurity and UPB. The two dimensions of job insecurity and UPB were moderated by job embeddedness such that the association was greater for employees who were more embedded. The results point towards the ‘dark side’ of embeddedness which may have deleterious effects for the organisation in the form of UPB.
Green Human Resource Management and Green Service Behaviour in Organisations: Examining Underlying Mechanism
South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, Ahead of Print.
This study aims to examine perceived green human resource management (GHRM) influence on perceived in-role and extra-role green service behaviour. Specifically, drawing upon social identity theory, authors tested how green commitment mediates the relationship between GHRM and employees’ green behaviour. The study employed cross-sectional research design in a non-contrived setting for data collection from 203 responses of banking sector employees in Afghanistan. Partial least squares structural equation modelling is applied by using SmartPLS 3 software. The empirical results confirmed that green commitment mediates the relationship between GHRM and employees’ in-role and extra-role green service behaviour. This study explores green commitment as novel mechanisms through which GHRM practices influence employees’ in-role and extra-role green behaviour in organisations.
This study aims to examine perceived green human resource management (GHRM) influence on perceived in-role and extra-role green service behaviour. Specifically, drawing upon social identity theory, authors tested how green commitment mediates the relationship between GHRM and employees’ green behaviour. The study employed cross-sectional research design in a non-contrived setting for data collection from 203 responses of banking sector employees in Afghanistan. Partial least squares structural equation modelling is applied by using SmartPLS 3 software. The empirical results confirmed that green commitment mediates the relationship between GHRM and employees’ in-role and extra-role green service behaviour. This study explores green commitment as novel mechanisms through which GHRM practices influence employees’ in-role and extra-role green behaviour in organisations.