TY - JOUR
T1 - Unpacking Informal Contractual Relationships
T2 - Psychological Contracts Established by Australian Business Academics
AU - O'Neill, Grant
AU - Krivokapic-Skoko, Branka
AU - Dowell, David
N1 - Imported on 12 Apr 2017 - DigiTool details were: Journal title (773t) = Irish Journal of Management. ISSNs: 1649-248X;
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - 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 multimethod 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.
AB - 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 multimethod 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.
KW - Open access version available
KW - Academics
KW - Employee commitment
KW - Professionalism
KW - Psychological contract
M3 - Article
VL - 29
SP - 5
EP - 33
JO - Irish Journal of Management
JF - Irish Journal of Management
SN - 0332-1118
IS - 2
ER -