Enjoying new ways to work : an HRM-process approach to study flow

Authors

Pascale PETERS, Institute for Management Research, Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands
Erik POUTSMA, Institute for Management Research, Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands
Beatrice I. J. M. VAN DER HEIJDEN, Institute for Management Research, Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands, Open Universiteit, Netherlands, University of Twente, Netherlands
Arnold B. BAKKER, Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands; Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Lingnan University, Hong KongFollow
Thomas de BRUIJN, Capgemini Consulting

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Human Resource Management

Publication Date

3-1-2014

Volume

53

Issue

2

First Page

271

Last Page

290

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Keywords

HRM-process model, Multiactor multilevel data, New ways to work, Work-related flow

Abstract

This article investigates the relationships between human resource management practices associated with New Ways to Work (employee empowerment, home-based teleworking, and creating trust relationships) and work-related flow as experienced by employees (absorption, work enjoyment, and intrinsic work motivation). Hypotheses, based on a combined perspective integrating insights from the HRM-process model and the job demands-resources model, are tested using multiactor multilevel data comprising employees (N = 1,017) and their line managers (N = 89), across 89 job categories in 30 organizations. Although organizations may implement management practices aimed at empowering employees in particular job categories, this study showed that anticipated effects on work-related flow (particularly work enjoyment) are not achieved when employees themselves do not experience being empowered, and when they do not use and experience their working conditions as job resources (home-based teleworking and trust relationships characterized by supporting leadership, collegial support, and collegial commitment). The article concludes with recommendations regarding organizational change aimed at implementing New Ways to Work and suggestions for future research.

DOI

10.1002/hrm.21588

Print ISSN

00904848

E-ISSN

1099050X

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Peters, P., Poutsma, E., Van Der Heijden, B. I. J. M., Bakker, A. B., & Bruijn, T. D. (2014). Enjoying new ways to work: An HRM-process approach to study flow. Human Resource Management, 53(2), 271-290. doi: 10.1002/hrm.21588