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Understanding the Contextual, Cultural, and Individual Antecedents of Self-directed Development

Thompson, Darlene Jeanette
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1386168229

Abstract Details

2013, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Psychology-Industrial/Organizational.
Performance management systems that rely solely on organizationally driven employee development strategies are ill-suited to develop current and future leaders in today’s organizations. Successful performance management systems need to be flexible and dynamic in regards to employee development. In order to meet this need, traditional development strategies should be supplemented with self-directed development (Casio 2008; Hall 2004). Self-directed development is a process whereby employees take responsibility for their development. Self-directed development is critical for individual success in today’s workforce (Boyce, Zaccaro, & Wisecarver, 2010; De Vos & Soens, 2008). Still, there are few empirical studies examining possible antecedents of employee engagement in self-directed development. The current study sought to address this gap by identifying contextual, individual, and cultural antecedents of employee participation in self-directed development. Additionally, this study proposed interactions between these antecedents and identified important work-related outcomes of self-directed development. This study utilized a cross-cultural sample of full time employees and managers from China and the United States, working in a large, multinational organization. This research found that the empowering environment an important antecedent of self-directed development. Individual differences such as learning goal orientation, feedback orientation, career insight, and instrumentality of development were also positively associated with employee engagement in self-directed development. This study also tested possible interactions between the empowering environment and several other antecedents of the empowering environment. These tests revealed that learning goal orientations and feedback orientations significantly moderated the relationship between the empowering environment and self-directed development. Cultural variables, which were measured at the individual level, also moderated the relationship between the empowering environment and self-directed development. The cultural dimensions of individualism-collectivism and power distance significantly interacted with the empowering environment. These findings suggest that individual and cultural variables play an important role in influencing employees’ engagement in self-directed development. Additionally, this study observed significant relationships between self-directed development and job satisfaction and affective commitment. Taken together, these results suggest that contextual, cultural, and individual variables contribute to employees’ participation in self-directed development. Implications for future research and organizational application are discussed.
Paul Levy, Dr. (Advisor)
Joelle Elicker, Dr. (Committee Member)
Rosalie Hall, Dr. (Committee Member)
Maria Hamdani, Dr. (Committee Member)
Jennifer Wessel, Dr. (Committee Member)
204 p.
Psychology
Development, Self-directed development, Self-development, empowering environment, feedback, feedback orientation, protean career, culture

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Thompson, D. J. (2013). Understanding the Contextual, Cultural, and Individual Antecedents of Self-directed Development [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1386168229

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Thompson, Darlene. Understanding the Contextual, Cultural, and Individual Antecedents of Self-directed Development . 2013. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1386168229.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Thompson, Darlene. "Understanding the Contextual, Cultural, and Individual Antecedents of Self-directed Development ." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1386168229

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1386168229
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© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.