Effectiveness of Meaningfulness in Work Development Program for Generation Z Employees: A Pilot Study
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Although work meaningfulness enhancement programs have been developed, a meaningfulness in work training program for Generation Z (Gen Z), who make considerable use of high-tech equipment and require a suitable learning approach, has not been found. This study aimed to validate the training program's effectiveness in developing meaningfulness in work for Gen Z employees. The study employed a one-group pretest-posttest design and the participants were 16 Gen Z employees in two companies in the media agency industry in Bangkok, Thailand. The research instruments included the meaningfulness in work program, the meaningfulness questionnaire, and the semi-structured interview questions. The findings from repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated that the meaningfulness in work level of the post-test and follow-up periods was significantly higher than that of the pretest period at the .05 level. The interview results supported the effectiveness of the program, as well as the utilization of the techniques trained in the program in their work. Further usage of the program is encouraged to enhance meaningfulness in work, together with other potential benefits for Gen Z employees.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
1) The content of article in HROD journal is the author’s wholly responsibility to research, analyze, summarize, compile, and reference data. The editorial department will not be responsible in anyway.
2) The submitted articles in HROD journal must be unpublished before and must not be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. If it is detected for its repetition, the author must be responsible for infringement of copyright.
3) Authors will be asked to transfer copyright of the article to the Publisher. The article is prohibited to reproduce all or part of the text, unless allowed.
References
Allan, B. A., Duffy, R. D., & Collisson, B. (2018). Helping others increases meaningful work: Evidence from three experiments. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 65(2), 155-165. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000228
Arar, T., & Yuksel, I. (2015). How to manage Generation Z in business life. Journal of Global Economics, Management and Business Research, 4(4) 195-202.
Bailey, C., Yeoman, R., Madden, A., Thompson, M., & Kerridge, G. (2019). A review of the empirical literature on meaningful work: Progress and research agenda. Human Resource Development Review, 18(1), 83-113. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484318804653
Berthoin Antal, A., Debucquet, G., & Fremeaux, S. (2018). Meaningful work and artistic interventions in organizations: Conceptual development and empirical exploration. Journal of Business Research, 85, 375-385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2017.10.015
Bohdziewicz, P. (2016). Career anchors of representatives of Generation Z: Some conclusions for managing the younger generation of employees. Human Resource Management, 113(6), 57-74.
Chala, N., N., Poplavska, O., Danylevych, N., Ievseitseva, O., & Sova, R. (2022). Intrinsic motivation of millennials and Generation Z in the new post-pandemic reality. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 20(2), 536-550. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.20(2).2022.44
Chaolertseree, S., & Taephant, N. (2020). Outcomes of meaningful work with a focus on Asia: A systematic review. The Journal of Behavioral Science, 15(3), 101-116. https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/IJBS/article/view/243554
Chillakuri, B. (2020). Understanding Generation Z expectations for effective onboarding. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 33(7), 1277-1296. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-02-2020-0058
Cretu, I., Grigore, M., & Scripcariu, I. S. (2020). Get ready for Gen Z, our next generation of medical students. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 69, 282-292. https://doi.org/10.33788/rcis.69.18
Devarajan, R., Maheshwari, S., & Vohra, V. (2018). Managing performance: Role of goal setting in creating work meaningfulness. The Business & Management Review, 9(4), 261-278.
Dobrowolski, Z., Drozdowski, G., & Panait, M. (2022). Understanding the impact of Generation Z on risk management-A preliminary view on values, competencies, and ethics of the Generation Z in public administration. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 3868. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073868
Editorial Department of Thairath (2023, February 2). The survey results reveal that digital careers offer good pay and job prospects, but the resignation rate is high. The main cause is opportunities outweighing compensation. Thairath Money. https://www.thairath.co.th/money/business_marketing/leadership_culture/2618985
Filatrovi, E. W., & Attiq, K. (2020). Managing Employee Engagement in Generation Z. International Journal of Economics, Business and Accounting Research, 4(4), 1164-1171.
Fletcher, L., & Schofield, K. (2021). Facilitating meaningfulness in the workplace: A field intervention study. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 32(14), 2975-3003. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2019.1624590
Francis, T., & Hoefel, F. (2018, November 12). The influence of Gen Z - the first generation of true digital natives-is expanding. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/true-gen-generation-z-and-its-implications-for-companies#/
Fremeaux, S., & Pavageau, B. (2022). Meaningful leadership: How can leaders contribute to meaningful work?. Journal of Management Inquiry, 31(1), 54-66. https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492619897126
Furnham, A., MacRae, I., & Tetchner, J. (2021). Measuring work motivation: The facets of the work values questionnaire and work success. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 62(3), 401-408. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12723
Gagne, M. (2018). From strategy to action: Transforming organizational goals into organizational behavior. International Journal of Management Reviews, 20(S1), S83-S104. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12159
Goh, E., & Baum, T. (2021). Job perceptions of Generation Z hotel employees towards working in Covid-19 quarantine hotels: The role of meaningful work. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 33(5), 1688-1710. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-11-2020-1295
Ilyash, O., Yildirim, O., Capuk, S., & Bozgul, N. (2019). The impact of work autonomy and organizational commitment on organizational communication. Journal of Behavior Studies in Organizations, 2, 10-17. https://doi.org/10.32038/JBSO.2019.02.02
Jain, C. R., Apple, D. K., Ellis, W., Leise, C., & Leasure, D. (2020). Bringing self-growth theory to practice using the self-growth methodology. International Journal of Process Education, 11(1), 73-100.
Kohnova, L., Papula, J., & Salajova, N. (2021). Needs for future education and development systems in organizations. Proceedings of the 15th International Technology, Education and Development Conference. 10209-10217. https://doi.org/10.21125/inted.2021.2128
Kosasih, F. R., Yee, V. T. S., Toh, S. H. Y., & Suendermann, O. (2022). "Intellect", a mobile health application based on cognitive-behavioral therapy principles, improves anxiety and worry: A randomized controlled trial with an active control and a 2-week follow-up. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.07.25.22278034
Lashbrooke, B. (2022, August 24). It's time to retire lazy generalizations about Gen Z in the workplace. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/Barnabylashbrooke/2022/08/24/its-time-to-retire-lazy-generalizations-about-gen-z-in-the-workplace/?sh=41631b95afe3
Lertsudwichai, T. (2022, October 2). Summarizing the reasons for employees leaving the digital advertising agency. Digital Break Time. https://digitalbreaktime.com/2022/10/02/reason-resign-agency/
Levontin, L., & Bardi, A. (2019). Using personal values to understand the motivational basis of amity goal orientation. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 2736. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02736
Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2013). Goal setting theory: The current state. In E. A. Locke & G. P. Latham (Eds.), New developments in goal setting and task performance (pp. 623-630). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203082744
Lovell, K. (2017, November 21). Lovell's new report: How Millennials and Gen Z are redefining the future of work. PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lovells-new-report-how-millennials-and-gen-z-are-redefining-the-future-of-work-659049483.html
Lysova, E. I., Allan, B. A., Dik, B. J., Duffy, R., & Steger, M. F. (2019). Fostering meaningful work in organizations: A multi-level review and integration. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 110, 374-389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2018.07.004
Martela, F., Gomez, M., Unanue, W., Araya, S., Bravo, D., & Espejo, A. (2021). What makes work meaningful? Longitudinal evidence for the importance of autonomy and beneficence for meaningful work. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 131, 103631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2021.103631
Martela, F., & Riekki, T. J. (2018). Autonomy, competence, relatedness, and beneficence: A multicultural comparison of the four pathways to meaningful work. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1157. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01157
Martela F., Ryan R. M., Steger M. F. (2018). Meaningfulness as satisfaction of autonomy, competence, relatedness, and beneficence: Comparing the four satisfactions and positive affect as predictors of meaning in life. Journal of Happiness Studies, 19(5), 1261-1282. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-017-9869-7
May, D. R., Gilson, R. L., & Harter, L. M. (2004). The psychological conditions of meaningfulness, safety and availability and the engagement of the human spirit at work. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 77(1), 11-37. https://doi.org/10.1348/096317904322915892
McCrindle, M., & Fell, A. (2019). Understanding Generation Z: Recruiting, training, and leading the next generation. McCrindle Research. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mark-Mccrindle/publication/335159678_Understanding_Generation_Z_Recruiting_Training_and_Leading_the_Next_Generation/links/5d53b373299bf16f0736ab88/Understanding-Generation-Z-Recruiting-Training-and-Leading-the-Next-Generation.pdf
Michel, A., Bosch, C., & Rexroth, M. (2014). Mindfulness as a cognitive-emotional segmentation strategy: An intervention promoting work-life balance. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 87(4), 733-754. https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12072
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Mosca, J. B., Curtis, K. P., & Savoth, P. G. (2019). New approaches to learning for Generation Z. Journal of Business Diversity, 19(3), 66-74. https://doi.org/10.33423/jbd.v19i3.2214
Nabahani, P. R., & Riyanto, S. (2020). Job satisfaction and work motivation in enhancing Generation Z's organizational commitment. Journal of Social Science, 1(5), 234-240. https://doi.org/10.46799/jss.v1i5.39
Nikolova, M., & Cnossen, F. (2020). What makes work meaningful and why economists should care about it. Labour Economics, 65, 101847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2020.101847
Pimenta de Devotto, R., de Freitas, C. P. P., & Wechsler, S. M. (2022). Basic psychological need satisfaction, job crafting, and meaningful work: Network analysis. Trends in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-022-00203-5
Pratt, M. G., & Ashford, B. E. (2003). Fostering meaningfulness in working and at work. In K. S. Cameron & J. E. Dutton (Eds.), Positive organizational scholarship: Foundations of a new discipline (pp. 309-327). Berrett-Koehler.
Perry, J. L. (2020). Managing organizations to sustain passion for public service. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108915236
Racolta-Paina, N. D., & Irini, R. D. (2021). Generation Z in the workplace through the lenses of human resource professionals - A qualitative study. Quality - Access to Success, 22(183), 78-85.
Ryan, R. M., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2023). Self-determination theory: Metatheory, methods, and meaning. In R. M. Ryan (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of self-determination theory. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197600047.001.0001
Schimel, E. R. (2017, December 7). The 2.5% rule: A new approach to reducing agency turnover. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2017/12/07/the-2-5-rule-a-new-approach-to-reducing-agency-turnover/?sh=617e6b16288d
Schroth, H. (2019). Are you ready for Gen Z in the workplace?. California Management Review, 61(3), 5-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008125619841006
Seemiller, C., Grace, M., Dal Bo Campagnolo, P., Mara Da Rosa Alves, I., & Severo De Borba, G. (2019). How Generation Z college students prefer to learn: a comparison of US and Brazil students. Journal of Educational Research and Practice, 9(1), 349-368. https://doi.org/10.5590/JERAP.2019.09.1.25
Simonet, D. V., & Castille, C. M. (2020). The search for meaningful work: A network analysis of personality and the job characteristics model. Personality and Individual Differences, 152, 109569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.109569
Slemp, G. R., Kern, M. L., & Vella-Brodrick, D. A. (2015). Workplace well-being: The role of job crafting and autonomy support. Psychology of Well-being, 5(7), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13612-015-0034-y
Sung, M., Yoon, D. Y., & Han, C. S. H. (2022). Does job autonomy affect job engagement? Psychological meaningfulness as a mediator. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 50(5), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.11275
Thory. (2016). Developing meaningfulness at work through emotional intelligence training. International Journal of Training and Development, 20(1), 58-77. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijtd.12069
Vansteenkiste, M., Ryan, R. M., & Soenens, B. (2020). Basic psychological need theory: Advancements, critical themes, and future directions. Motivation and Emotion, 44, 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-019-09818-1
Van Tilburg, W. A., & Igou, E. R. (2013). On the meaningfulness of behavior: An expectancy x value approach. Motivation and Emotion, 37, 373-388. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-012-9316-3
Vitterso, J., & Straume, L. V. (2020). Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Difference. In V. Zeigler-Hill & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.) (pp. 3512-3517). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_1492
Whab, M. Z., & Bakar, R. A. (2021). The role of meaningfulness at work and its impact on turnover intention: The case of the Royal Malaysian Navy. International Journal of Business and Management, 5(1), 01-07. https://doi.org/10.26666/rmp.ijbm.2021.1.1
Wrzesniewski, A., & Dutton, J. E. (2001). Crafting a job: Revisioning employees as active crafters of their work. Academy of Management Review, 26(2), 179-201. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2001.4378011