Unit performance, situational factors, and employee attitudes in spatially separated work units

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Abstract

This study investigated the relationships between work unit performance on the one hand, and employee attitudes and situational characteristics on the other hand, among 411 female clerical workers in 37 branches of a bank. The branches are work units characterized by spatial separation and the performance of similar functions. Two independent dimensions of performance were empirically identified and their relationship to attitudes and situational characteristics studied within a multivariate framework by means of multiple discriminant analysis.

The results indicate that employee attitudes were significantly related to a measure of branch performance reflecting job duties performed within the branch. Employees in branches rated high in performance had a higher level of attitudes toward aspects of both the branch in which they work and the larger organization of which it is a part, while individuals in low- and medium-performing branches had a lower level of attitudes that was similar. Situational characteristics of the branch were most highly related to the manager's performance of loan functions, a large portion of which may take place outside the branch.

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This research was carried out under (Contract N00014-69-A-0200-9001 NR 151-315) from the Office of Naval Research.

2

The authors express their appreciation to Joseph E. Champoux, Richard M. Steers, Eugene Stone, and William J. Crampon for their valuable assistance during various phases of this investigation.

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