Employee personal values as indicators of suitability for given levels of work in terms of Jaques' levels of work theory

The purpose of this study is to examine if personal values/value systems held by employees can be used to accurately assign them to levels of work to which they will be best suited and, by implication, are likely to perform well. To fulfil this purpose, data covering a biographically mixed sample (N=399), being employees of various organisations was obtained by way of psychological assessment. Two psychological measures were used - one that measures employees' level of work profiles (CPP) and the other, their personal value systems (VO). Using correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis, the study finds a statistically significant association between an employee's value system and his/her level of work profile (p<.05), and a moderate but also statistically significant ability of values to predict an employee's level of work profile (p<.001). The study concludes by recommending that, as part of the many considerations that should be taken into account in pursuit of successful initial and subsequent placement of people in organisations, personal values held by employees should be one of the qualities to be assessed and taken into consideration. The study further notes that the consideration of employee value systems as a quality necessary for on-the-job success should be done in addition to, rather than in replacement of the traditionally preferred qualities of cognitive abilities, personality and acquired knowledge/skills.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Organisational Psychology

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Ndiweni, Qhubekani

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• van_Lill, Burger

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10731

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/10731