Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

9-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Program

Business

Advisor

Richard Kopelman

Committee Members

Stephan Dilchert

Harold Goldstein

Subject Categories

Business Administration, Management, and Operations

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of COVID-19 induced uncertainty on the implementation and effectiveness of workplace practices, using the behavioral theory of the firm as the theoretical lens. Employing the Cube One framework as the set of practices to test, it hypothesizes that pandemic-induced uncertainty would reduce the frequency of management practices enacted, decrease variability across organizations, and diminish the relationship between enacted practices and organizational performance. Furthermore, the study posits that these relationships will be moderated by industry, given their variable levels of exposure to pandemic disruptions.

Contrary to expectations, the initial results revealed no overarching reduction or convergence in management practices and no decrease in correlation with organizational performance. However, there was support for one of the moderations. There was a greater decrease in correlational strength between Cube One practices and performance with organizations in the high impact industry group. Additionally, an in-depth examination of the data shows survey respondents reported substantial heterogeneity in responses, with a third of the organizations aligning with the initial hypothesis and reducing their practices.

This study contributes to the understanding of workplace practices and systems amidst environmental uncertainty and provides practical insights for organizations and policymakers on resilience and adaptability during major disruptions. Future research directions and limitations are discussed, prompting further exploration of these themes.

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