It is true that factors such as job satisfaction and personality that were
long assumed to be related to productivity have not been found in research
to be associated with performance. However, relatively recent studies by
industrial/organizational and social psychologists suggest that when
performance is broken down into task and contextual performance, job
satisfaction has been shown to be a strong predictor of contextual
performance. Task performance includes technical processes as well as
behaviors used to maintain technical processes. Examples of contextual
performance include helping others in the workplace, following
organizational rules, and defending organizational objectives. Contextual
performance has been linked to Organizational Citizenship Behaviors, which
are basically performance beyond role requirements in a workplace that are
not formally rewarded and contribute to the success of the organization as
a whole. These behaviors include helping to train new co-workers, staying
late to cover for co-workers, and sharing information. An organization
that can foster these types of behaviors may have more success at becoming
a learning organization or maintaining and improving as a learning
organization.
Here are some references that may offer more on these topics:
Barrick, M. R. & Mount, M. K (1991). The big five personality dimensions
and job performance: A meta-analysis. Personnel Psychology, 44, 1-25.
Borman, W. C. & Motowidlo, S.J. (1997). Task performance and contextual
performance: The meaning for personnel selection research. Human
Performance, 10(2), 99-109.
Folger, R. (1993). Justice, motivation, and performance beyond role
requirements. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 6(3), 239-248.
Organ, W. D. (1988). Organizational Citizenship Behavior: The Good
Soldier Syndrome. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
Motowidlo, S.J., Borman, W.C., and Schmit, M.J. (1997). A theory of
individual differences in task and contextual performance. Human
Performance, 10(2), 71-83.
This is my first contribution to this list and I guess I should introduce
myself. My name is David Lindbom and I work for a training and
development company in Orlando, Florida. I am finishing up my MA in
Industrial/Organizational Psychology (finishing up my thesis). I have
been very interested in many of the directions that this forum has taken.
I hope to be able to contribute more in the future as my time becomes my
own again.
David K. Lindbom
Carley Corporation
3203 Lawton Rd. #251
Orlando, FL 32803
dlindbom@carleycorp.com
407-894-5575 ext 262
407-895-3865 fax
[Host's Note: Welcome David and thanks for your contribution. ..Rick]
--"David Lindbom" <dlindbom@carleycorp.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>