Flávia de Souza Costa Neves Cavazotte

Method Variance and Marker Variables: A Review and Comprehensive CFA Marker Technique

Lindell and Whitney introduced a partial correlation technique, now referred to as the correlational marker technique, for controlling method variance using a marker variable that is theoretically unrelated to substantive variables in a study. This article (a) first reviews their specific analysis plan, and then (b) reviews empirical studies that have followed all or part of this plan. The authors also (c) describe a structural equation method that has been applied to the analysis of marker variables and (d) review empirical studies using this analytical approach. Next, the authors (e) develop a comprehensive confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) marker technique analysis plan, and (f) demonstrate this plan with an empirical example. Finally, the authors (g) describe how marker variables can be examined along with other method variance processes, (h) discuss the important role of theory in the critical step of selecting marker variables, and (i) discuss assumptions and limitations of the Comprehensive CFA Marker Technique.

Novas gerações no mercado de trabalho: expectativas renovadas ou antigos ideais?

Amid the changes in careers and labor relations in today´s workplace, (BALASSIANO and COSTA, 2006; DUTRA, 2010), a new generation of professionals is entering the job market. This generation has been characterized by the non-academic literature as significantly different from its predecessors (ALSOP, 2008; MUNRO, 2009). However, scientific studies have also suggested that such differences could be much less pronounced (CENNAMO and GARDNER, 2008; WONG, GARDINER, LANG et al., 2008). The changing nature of careers and the entrance of this new generation into the job market have motivated this study, which aims to examine the expectations of young workers regarding the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards they wish to attain in the workplace through interviews with undergraduate students enrolled in management programs offered by private universities in Rio de Janeiro. As they addressed an open question regarding what they wished to find in the organizations, young adults ranging from 20 to 28 years old revealed their dreams and concerns. The analysis of the reports suggests that there is more in common between members of Generation Y and its predecessors than the non-academic literature would have us believe. The observations of this study support the notion that young employees may establish psychological contracts that favor pleasure, freedom and social involvement. On the other hand, new and conventional expectations seem to coexist, since such contemporary concerns come together with aspirations longed for by previous generations, reinforcing the perception that there are work-related expectations that remain, in spite of objective changes in the productive sphere.

Charismatic Leadership, Citizenship Behaviors, and Power Distance Orientation Comparing Brazilian and U.S. Workers

This article examines the connection between leadership and citizenship behaviors in a comparative study of Brazilian and U.S. employees. The influence of country and power distance orientation on the relationship between perceived charismatic leadership and follower organizational citizenship behaviors is analyzed statistically, while controlling for demographic factors. Given the ambivalent frameworks and findings in the literature, we also proposed and tested a quadratic effect of power distance orientation on citizenship behaviors, and analyzed the adequacy of the model to explain two dimensions of citizenship: altruism and generalized compliance. We found that charismatic leadership was positively associated with citizenship behaviors in the U.S. group, but not in the Brazilian group. Although the groups differed regarding power distance orientations, that cultural factor did not significantly moderate the relationship between charismatic leadership and citizenship behaviors, only country of origin did. However, we confirmed that both very high and low power distance orientation were associated with citizenship behaviors across the samples. While the tested hypotheses were confirmed when altruism was the criteria, the same was not observed regarding generalized compliance. We discuss the implications of these findings for theory, research, and practice.