THE BELIEF STRUCTURE OF MANAGERS RELATIVE TO WORK CONCEPTS MEASURED BY A FACTOR ANALYTIC MODEL

Current management practices in many firms are trying to meet the needs of workers for interesting jobs through a movement called human resource development, an activity suggesting the need for research into the beliefs that inform this movement. This study, based on a sample of 366 managers, shows that they have an orientation to work based on humanistic beliefs rather than the traditional work ethic position. Thus, the new management style exemplified in the HRD movement may not simply be a push for increased performance, but may also be supported by a set of beliefs regarding the nature of work that is consistent with this style. However, this new orientation does not include any positive beliefs relative to worker participation in decision-making, an area rejected strongly by all the managers surveyed.