Testing Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory of Motivation in the Public Sector: Is it Applicable to Public Managers?

Given the limitations in providing monetary rewards as an incentive in the public sector, Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory of Motivation can be promising if it is applicable to public employees. This study identifies the effects of motivators and hygiene factors on public managers’ job satisfaction, and finds out if there is difference, compared to how private-sector employees are motivated. According to the findings, a majority of identified motivators in the previous research showed positive effects on job satisfaction among public managers, and public managers’ job satisfaction was not affected by hygiene factor as predicted in Herzberg’s study. Managerial implications are discussed.     

Korean Twins Reared Apart: Genetic and Cultural Influences on Behavior and Health

Monozygotic twins reared in different countries are rare. Data from several available cases have been combined in group findings, masking cultural effects on behavior. The present study compared behavioral and health-related findings for unusual monozygotic female twins raised apart in South Korea and the United States. The 37-year-old twins were exceptional in being reared under dramatically different circumstances with limited telephone and Internet contact. Primary outcome measures included life history events, physical and health-related characteristics, and diverse behavioral traits. Striking similarities and differences were noted. Findings are discussed with reference to genetic and cultural influences on health and behavior.     

Une action publique hybride ? Retour sur l’institutionnalisation d’un partenariat public-privé, JCDecaux à Lyon (1965–2005)

The work of JCDecaux in Lyon is analyzed on the basis of interactions between the company and local authorities. Through the relations gradually established with the Lyon Urban Community, created in 1969, the firm JCDecaux had a part in setting up the urban agglomeration. The continuity in the relations between these two parties is used to investigate how the institutions are reworked that organize modern societies. Public institutions help structure the market and construct models of urban capitalism, while private companies help work out the framework for public authorities’ actions. This joint construction leads to ever more interactions and reinforces the interdependence that tends to legitimate a hybrid form of public/private action.     

A comparative study of the relationship between pension plans and individual savings in Asian countries from an institutional point of view

Hur MH. A comparative study of the relationship between pension plans and individual savings in Asian countries from an institutional point of view Int J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 379–389 © 2009 The Author, Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare. This study identifies various saving plans used as alternative pension plans in Asian countries and examines the extent to which these saving plans contribute to their pension schemes. Data were collected from six Asian countries: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. The comparison concentrates on an examination of differences and similarities in individual countries' privately managed pension schemes and saving plans. This study suggests that a pension system does not have to be a privately managed plan to encourage individual savings. A critical point for individual savings was avoiding a defined benefit plan. On the basis of these findings, a typology of relationships between second and third pillars and provident funds and incentive systems for individual savings was developed.     

Real‐Time Work Schedule Adjustment Decisions: An Investigation and Evaluation

Service managers often find that available worker capacity does not match with actual demand during a given day. They then must attempt to modify the planned work schedule to improve service and increase profitability. This study, which defines such a setting as the real‐time work schedule adjustment decision, pr oposes mathematical formulations of the real‐time adjustment and develops efficient heuristic approaches for this decision. The study evaluates the relative effectiveness of these heuristics versus experienced service managers, investigates the effect of the degree of schedule adjustment on profitability, and assesses the effect of demand forecast update errors on the performance of the schedule adjustment efforts. First, the results indicate that the computer based heuristics achieve higher profit improvement than experienced managers. Second, there is a trade‐off between schedule stability and profitability so that more extensive schedule revisions (efficiency first heuristics) generally result in higher profitability. However, the incremental return on schedule changes is diminishing. Third, we find that active adjustments of work schedules are beneficial as long as the direction of demand change is accurately identified.     

The Varieties of Religious Significance: An Idiographic Approach to Study Religion's Role in Adolescent Development

We present a rationale and method for taking an idiographic approach to study the role religion plays in adolescent development. We theorize that adolescents harness qualitatively different aspects of religion to address idiosyncratic developmental needs. Therefore, analyzing religion's role in adolescent development necessitates a case‐by‐case holistic analysis. We introduce a systematic method using narratives to identify the personal ways that individuals attribute meaning in general and regarding religion in particular. We present three detailed case studies from a sample of 20 religious Israeli Jewish Orthodox emerging‐adult women who provided retrospective narrative accounts of their general and religious development through adolescence. Systematic analysis reveals that religion was significant to these women in diverse and personal ways, addressing markedly different adolescent developmental needs.     

Be Careful Where You Smile: Culture Shapes Judgments of Intelligence and Honesty of Smiling Individuals

Smiling individuals are usually perceived more favorably than non-smiling ones—they are judged as happier, more attractive, competent, and friendly. These seemingly clear and obvious consequences of smiling are assumed to be culturally universal, however most of the psychological research is carried out in WEIRD societies (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) and the influence of culture on social perception of nonverbal behavior is still understudied. Here we show that a smiling individual may be judged as less intelligent than the same non-smiling individual in cultures low on the GLOBE’s uncertainty avoidance dimension. Furthermore, we show that corruption at the societal level may undermine the prosocial perception of smiling—in societies with high corruption indicators, trust toward smiling individuals is reduced. This research fosters understanding of the cultural framework surrounding nonverbal communication processes and reveals that in some cultures smiling may lead to negative attributions.     

Current trends of Internet Addiction Disorder research: a review of 2000–2008 Korean academic journal articles

This article reviewed various Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) studies in Korea. The study showed that the symptoms of IAD have been reported by many Korean scholars, but the current Korean literature shows that IAD has yet to have a universally accepted theoretical framework. Internet addictions have been studied in various disciplines, and a multimodal approach that uses a combination of interactivity between psychotherapies and other intervention skills has been suggested by various authors, but has yet to be formed. A further study is required to explore a structural map based on the interrelations between IAD risk factors and to establish its treatment modalities.     

Getting the most out of reverse e-auction investment

In 1990s, with dramatic price reductions, reverse e-auctions were projected to be a widely used procurement tool. However, not all buyers saw the economic benefits of reverse e-auctions and the current usage is more limited than expected. This study identifies important organizational characteristics that determine the net return of e-auction programs and addresses why adopters of e-auctions experience varying profitability levels from their usage. The first step in the study concentrated on gathering interview and archival data from five large U.S. manufacturing firms that have used reverse e-auctions. Based on the field study findings, controlled experiments were conducted using a simulation model to assess identified influential factors for e-auctions. Implications for supply managers are presented and future research directions are discussed.