Factorial constitution of managerial effectiveness

The impact of personality and cognitive style of managers on their work types

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships between the personality and cognitive styles of managers and different types of work.

Design/methodology/approach

The personality types and cognitive styles of managers were measured, respectively, with the help of the Big Five personality factors and Jung’s cognitive types. Different types of works in an organization were categorized in three ways: identity, institutional and integrative work. A survey questionnaire method was used to collect data from a sample of 107 managers from a diverse range of industries, and these data were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The study found that intuitive feeling and intuitive thinking types of cognitive styles are suitable for identity and integrative kinds of work, respectively. Openness to experience and conscientiousness positively correlate with identity work. For institutional work, conscientious personality trait is most important for managers; agreeableness has a negative impact on identity work and institutional work.

Practical implications

This study will assist recruitment and staffing professionals, when recruiting managers for an organization, and the paper should be interesting for readers in industry (professionals in HR, managerial career development and managerial competence audit and counseling) and academia (research scholars).

Originality/value

Analysis of theses relationship types is unavailable in the literature of leadership and organizational studies. It can help organizations utilize their human resources efficiently.

Dimensions of role efficacy and managerial effectiveness: evidence from India

Purpose

While a range of studies have been undertaken on role efficacy (RE) and managerial effectiveness (ME), understanding of the link between RE and ME in the extant literature remains underdeveloped and, in particular, there is a need to develop appreciation of the phenomenon in varying (national and cultural) contexts. The purpose of this paper is to advance the understanding of ME by considering the relationship between RE and ME in the Indian context. In tandem with this focus, the study considers the parallel underlying dynamic and influence of social cognitive frameworks and adaptive self-regulation mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a quantitative methodology and follows a correlational design. A survey questionnaire was employed sequentially (the independent variable was measured at time 1 and the dependent variable was measure at time 2) in order to collect data from 294 Indian managers. Structural equation modeling was used to ascertain the validity of measures and multiple hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to test the study hypotheses.

Findings

The results of the study identify that RE dimensions, i.e. role making, role centering and role linkage were significantly and positively related to ME and these findings are particularly important in relation to the transforming cultures of Indian work and organizational environments. These findings advance the understanding of social cognitive theory and adaptive self-regulation processes in relation to RE and ME.

Practical implications

The empirical results of this study suggest that RE-related components may be used as means to boost employee effectiveness.

Originality/value

The study identifies a significant role for RE in relation to beneficial outcomes for ME. These findings contribute to the field of social cognitive mechanisms by establishing positive relationships in domain link efficacy, i.e. RE and ME.

Linking the Big Five personality factors and career commitment dimensions

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship of the Big Five personality factors (extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, emotional stability, and intellect/openness to experience) with career commitment measured in terms of three factors as career identity, career resilience, and career planning.

Design/methodology/approach

The study included 363 managers from public and private sector organizations in North India.

Findings

The authors found that in the Indian context, openness to experience/intellect is the Big Five personality dimension that acts as the significant predictor of all the three dimensions of career commitment (career identity, career resilience, and career planning). Further, conscientiousness was found as the significant predictor of only career identity, which indicated Indian managers who are focused identify well with their career line. In addition, the Big Five personality dimension of agreeableness was found to have a positive significant influence on career planning. From this, the authors inferred that tendency to get along well with others helps Indian managers in enhancing their career planning.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the existing literature on personality and careers in the South-Asian context.

Managerial effectiveness: an Indian experience

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to conduct an investigation into the interaction of three factors: ownership (public and private sector organizations), gender (male and female), and level of manager (senior, middle, junior) in relation to the concept of effectiveness in the Indian context.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is based on a data set of primary responses from 200 Indian executives. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was employed to retrieve and validate the instrument. Finally, 2×2×3 factorial ANOVA (GLM) was performed.

Findings

– First, the study proposes a valid and reliable measure of managerial effectiveness. Second, the interaction pattern of predictor variables in relation to managerial effectiveness provides further insights.

Practical implications

– Through its empirical evidence the study offers insight into issues of managerial effectiveness and provides suggestions for managerial action.

Originality/value

– The study attempted to gather the views of executives regarding issues of productivity, adaptability and flexibility as constructs of managerial effectiveness. Last, comparative analysis of different categories of managers (based on gender, organizational position, and institutional ownership status) provide an understanding of these issues in the Indian context.