The effect of humanistic values expressed by supervisors as perceived by sailors, on sailor work engagement
Open Access
- Author:
- Padilla, Cesar
- Graduate Program:
- Workforce Education and Development
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- April 21, 2023
- Committee Members:
- Mark Threeton, Major Field Member
John Ewing, Outside Unit & Field Member
Cynthia Pellock, Major Field Member
Hyung Joon Yoon, Chair & Dissertation Advisor
Heather Zimmerman, Professor in Charge/Director of Graduate Studies - Keywords:
- Humanistic Values
Work Engagement
Organization Development
Leadership
Hopeful Career State (HCS)
Work Engagement (WKE)
Organization Development (OD)
Human Agency - Abstract:
- The purpose of this study is to explore the effect perceived expression of supervisor values (PSV) may have on workers’ level of work engagement (WE). Prospective participants, sailors in the U.S. Navy, were invited, screened, and (if qualified) took part in a four-part survey that incorporated the work concerning the nine Organization Development (OD) humanistic values described in Yoon et al (2020), the Hopeful Career State (HCS) scale, the Assessment of Human Agency (AHA), and the Utrecht Work Engagement Survey (UWES). Structural Equation Modeling was employed to explain the relationships based on prior research to validate theory. PSV and WE were modeled in isolation to demonstrate the relationship as a reflection of the sample and PSV’s value and utility. The results are consistent with the theoretical underpinnings of prior studies using the same methodology. The results indicate OD values are important even in one of the most constrained population groups; in turn, contributing to the face validity of those values. The OD community could use the findings to assess whether the nine values identified in Yoon et al (2020) might resonate with workers in a post-COVID environment, to enhance its role in the field of organizational change, and to investigate further the effects leadership can have on work engagement in an ever-changing work environment and evolving worker expectations.