Work-Related Attitudes, Values and Radical Change in Post-Socialist Contexts: A Comparative Study

• Published in: Journal of business ethics 2006-10, Vol.68 (2), p.181-189
• Main Authors: Alas, Ruth, Rees, Christopher J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitudes; Attitudes to work; Business ethics; Business management; Business structures; Capitalism; capitalist; change; commitment; Correlation analysis; Culture; Employee attitude; Employees; ethics; Free markets; Human resource management; Human resources; Job enrichment; Job satisfaction; Labor unions; Management principles; Management science; Management styles; Management techniques; Management theory; Market economies; Organization development; Organizational change; Post-communist societies; Privatization; Radicalism; Social ethics; Social responsibility; Socialism; Socialist; Studies; Transition economies; Values; Work place
• ISSN: 0167-4544; 1573-0697
• DOI: 10.1007/s10551-006-9065-x

The study draws attention to the transfer of management theories and practices from traditional capitalist countries such as the USA and UK to post-socialist countries that are currently experiencing radical change as they seek to introduce market reforms. It is highlighted that the efficacy of this transfer of management theories and practices is, in part, dependent upon the extent to which work-related attitudes and values vary between traditional capitalist and former socialist contexts. We highlight that practices such as Human Resource Management (HRM) and Organization Development (OD) are inextricably associated with conceptions surrounding culture and society, as well as to variables such as job satisfaction and organisational commitment. The main aim of this study is to compare various attitudes and values of employees in traditional capitalist countries and post-socialist countries. On the basis of the findings of an attitudinal survey of (N = 5914) workers in 15 countries we conclude that certain aspects of the attitudes and values of workers in post-socialist countries and traditional capitalist countries differ significantly. Specifically, these differences were found in respect of context-related and job-related attitudes, and also in relation to the importance that the respondents attached to the subject of ethics more generally. The implications of the study are discussed particularly in relation to the transfer of management theory and practices between traditional capitalist and post-socialist contexts.