This chapter discusses attitudes, job satisfaction, and their relationship to behavior. It defines attitudes as having three components - affective, cognitive, and behavioral. Job satisfaction is described as positive or negative feelings about one's job. The chapter outlines four responses employees can have to job dissatisfaction: exit, voice, loyalty, and neglect. It explains that job satisfaction is related to employee performance, absenteeism, and turnover intention. The chapter also explores how diversity training and attitude surveys can shape employee attitudes.
2. 3–2
After studying this chapter,
you should be able to:
1. Contrast the three components of an attitude.
2. Summarize the relationship between attitudes
and behavior.
3. Identify the role consistency plays in attitudes.
4. State the relationship between job satisfaction
and behavior.
5. Identify four employee responses to
dissatisfaction.
LEARNINGOBJECTIVES
4. 3–4
Types of AttitudesTypes of Attitudes
Job Involvement
Identifying with the job, actively participating in it, and
considering performance important to self-worth.
Organizational Commitment
Identifying with a particular organization and its
goals, and wishing to maintain membership in the
organization.
Job Satisfaction
A collection of positive and/or negative feelings that an
individual holds toward his or her job.
5. 3–5
The Theory of Cognitive DissonanceThe Theory of Cognitive Dissonance
Desire to reduce dissonance
• Importance of elements creating dissonance
• Degree of individual influence over elements
• Rewards involved in dissonance
Desire to reduce dissonance
• Importance of elements creating dissonance
• Degree of individual influence over elements
• Rewards involved in dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance
Any incompatibility between two or more attitudes
or between behavior and attitudes.
6. 3–6
Measuring the A-B RelationshipMeasuring the A-B Relationship
Recent research indicates that attitudes (A)
significantly predict behaviors (B) when
moderating variables are taken into account.
Moderating Variables
• Importance of the attitude
• Specificity of the attitude
• Accessibility of the attitude
• Social pressures on the individual
• Direct experience with the attitude
Moderating Variables
• Importance of the attitude
• Specificity of the attitude
• Accessibility of the attitude
• Social pressures on the individual
• Direct experience with the attitude
8. 3–8
An Application: Attitude SurveysAn Application: Attitude Surveys
Attitude Surveys
Eliciting responses from employees through
questionnaires about how they feel about their jobs,
work groups, supervisors, and the organization.
10. 3–10
Attitudes and Workforce DiversityAttitudes and Workforce Diversity
Training activities that can reshape employee
attitudes concerning diversity:
– Participating in diversity training that provides for self-
evaluation and group discussions.
– Volunteer work in community and social serve centers
with individuals of diverse backgrounds.
– Exploring print and visual media that recount and
portray diversity issues.
11. 3–11
Job SatisfactionJob Satisfaction
Measuring Job Satisfaction
– Single global rating
– Summation score
How Satisfied Are People in Their Jobs?
– Job satisfaction declined to 50.4% in 2002
– Decline attributed to:
• Pressures to increase productivity and meet tighter
deadlines
• Less control over work
12. 3–12
The Effect of Job Satisfaction on Employee
Performance
The Effect of Job Satisfaction on Employee
Performance
Satisfaction and Productivity
– Satisfied workers aren’t necessarily more productive.
– Worker productivity is higher in organizations with
more satisfied workers.
Satisfaction and Absenteeism
– Satisfied employees have fewer avoidable absences.
Satisfaction and Turnover
– Satisfied employees are less likely to quit.
– Organizations take actions to retain high performers
and to weed out lower performers.
13. 3–13
How Employees Can Express DissatisfactionHow Employees Can Express Dissatisfaction
Exit
Behavior directed toward
leaving the organization.
Voice
Active and constructive
attempts to improve
conditions.
Neglect
Allowing conditions to
worsen.
Loyalty
Passively waiting for
conditions to improve.
14. 3–14
Responses to Job DissatisfactionResponses to Job Dissatisfaction
E X H I B I T 3–5
E X H I B I T 3–5Source: C. Rusbult and D. Lowery, “When Bureaucrats Get the Blues,” Journal
of Applied Social Psychology. 15, no. 1, 1985:83. Reprinted with permission.
15. 3–15
Job Satisfaction and OCBJob Satisfaction and OCB
Satisfaction and Organizational Citizenship
Behavior (OCB)
– Satisfied employees who feel fairly treated by and are
trusting of the organization are more willing to engage
in behaviors that go beyond the normal expectations of
their job.
16. 3–16
Job Satisfaction and Customer SatisfactionJob Satisfaction and Customer Satisfaction
Satisfied employees increase customer
satisfaction because:
– They are more friendly, upbeat, and responsive.
– They are less likely to turnover which helps build long-
term customer relationships.
– They are experienced.
Dissatisfied customers increase employee job
dissatisfaction.