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Virginia Tech

An examination of the relationship between the buffering response of part-time and temporary workers and technology, perceived environmental uncertainty and size in two manufacturing industries

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The primary objective of this study was to empirically test J. D. Thompson's proposition that organizations seek to buffer their technical cores from the uncertainty of the environment. Secondary objectives included: to explore the relationship among core technology, perceived environmental uncertainty, size, and buffering; to provide descriptive statistics on the use of part-time and temporary workers in manufacturing firms; and to empirically test the Perceived Environmental Uncertainty Instrument developed by Duncan and modified by Downey. These were accomplished by examining in an applied setting the relationship among one buffering method, two types of core technologies, size, and perceived environmental uncertainty.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph. D.
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Business Administration
Department dc:contributor.department
Business Administration
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1977

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Kopp, Daniel G.
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Litschert, Robert J.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Bonham, Thirwall W.
  • Robinson, James W.
  • Bird, Monroe Murphy
  • Sgro, Joseph A.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-07152010-020332
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/38812

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Kopp, Daniel G.. An examination of the relationship between the buffering response of part-time and temporary workers and technology, perceived environmental uncertainty and size in two manufacturing industries. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 1977. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/38812