Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
7-2006
Abstract
The provision of choice is one of the most common vehicles through which managers empower employees in organizations. Although past psychological and organizational research persuasively suggests that choice confers personal agency, and is thus intrinsically motivating, emerging research indicates that there could be potential pitfalls. In this chapter, we examine the various factors that could influence the effects of choice. Specifically, we examine individual-level factors such as the chooser’s socioeconomic status and cultural background. We also examine situational factors such as the content of choice and the number of choices offered. We then expand our discussion on the effect of giving employees extensive choice by looking at its influence on creative performance. In the second half of this chapter, we discuss implications for future organizational behavior research and examine how emerging research on choice making can inform specific managerial practices.
Keywords
Organizational creativity
Discipline
Business | Organizational Behavior and Theory
Research Areas
Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources
Publication
Research in Organizational Behavior
Volume
27
First Page
41
Last Page
79
ISSN
0191-3085
Identifier
10.1016/S0191-3085(06)27002-3
Publisher
Elsevier
Citation
CHUA, Roy Y. J. and Iyengar, Sheena S..
Empowerment through choice?: A critical analysis of the effects of choice in organizations. (2006). Research in Organizational Behavior. 27, 41-79.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/3970
Copyright Owner and License
Publisher
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-3085(06)27002-3