Karin Amit

Motivation to Lead: Research on the Motives for Undertaking Leadership Roles in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

Psychological research on leadership has dealt mainly with the influence of leadership as an independent variable (Bass, 1990). Only recently has a pioneer attempt been made to develop an empirical model for the examination of motivation to lead (MTL; Chan, 1999). This model incorporates three factors: affective MTL, social-normative MTL, and calculative MTL. The study described here tested and expanded Chans model with a sample from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF; n = 402). It confirms the existence of the three motivational factors located by Chan. Two additional motivational factors were found: ideological and patriotic. Also, leaders differed from non-leaders in their MTL factors. The theoretical and practical significance of these findings is discussed.

The Role of Social Networks in the Immigration Decision-making Process: The Case of North American Immigration to Israel

This study focuses on the role of social networks in the decision-making process in migration which occurs between developed countries, specifically in immigration from North America to Israel. The central declared motives for immigration were religious; nevertheless, “materialistic” issues were also mentioned. The decision-making process was long, usually taking from 2 to 10 years. Information was gathered via personal contacts from social networks, during visits to Israel, and from Jewish organisations. The Internet also played a major role in this process. Networks that were set up by Israeli and Jewish organisations were found to be especially effective in organising immigration because they connected non-numerous dispersed individuals, who were thinking about Aliyah, and needed various kinds of support.

Motivation to Lead in Multicultural Organizations The Role of Work Scripts and Political Perceptions

Conceptions of leadership are conspicuous in their absence from the field of organizational politics. We respond to this timely challenge by considering how cultural values and perceptions of organizational politics influence motivations to lead in a multicultural setting. By combining qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis, we expand the Motivation to Lead (MTL) construct proposed by Chan and Drasgow. In addition, we apply the concept of the work script to the Israeli high-tech industry to predict how cultural values and perceptions of organizational politics combine to shape motivations to lead.

Influence of Attachment Style on Major Psychological Capacities to Lead

ABSTRACT Addressing psychological literatures deficiency in research on the early development of leaders in everyday life (e.g., leaders in the workplace, leaders in social settings, leaders in organizational settings), this study assumed that central psychological capacities required for such leaders can be predicted and explained by J. Bowlbys (1969) attachment theory concerning developmental processes in infancy. The authors administered a series of questionnaires to 402 participants. The authors analyzed data by using structural equation modeling. Findings indicate a potential-to-lead construct that forms in infancy. The results fully supported the authors’ main arguments: that secure attachment style influences the potential to lead and that this capacity is essential for leadership as measured by leadership ranking.

The Duration of Migration Decision-Making: Moving to Israel from North America

The migration decision-making process from one developed country to another is examined. The focus is on an important aspect in this process, namely the duration of decision-making and its determinants. Our study, using qualitative and quantitative methods, was conducted among North American immigrants to Israel. The process of migration decision-making was found to be rather long. The general decision (intention) to migrate may exist for unidentifiable periods, whereas the practical decision is more limited (2–10 years). Demographic characteristics, social capital, migration motives and economic status in the country of origin proved significant for the duration of the decision-making. The results are examined by means of the consumer decision-making model, and conclusions related to the research population are presented.

Socioeconomic Integration of Second Generation Immigrants in Israel: Examining Alternative Ethnic Classifications

The present study examines the socioeconomic integration of second generation immigrants in Israel. Most Israeli studies examine this population using a binary ethnic classification into Mizrahim (originating in Asia or Africa) and Ashkenazim (originating in Europe). Drawing upon immigration theory and evidence from Israeli research on first generation immigrants, the present study examines second generation immigrants using a country of origin classification. The socioeconomic characteristics of second generation immigrants from 12 origin countries are presented, and their economic integration into the Israeli labor market is tested in two time periods, 1983 and 1995, using Israeli census data. The results suggest that, in general, the binary ethnic classification is the relevant one for analyzing the second generation immigrants, although additional information is obtained using county of origin classification. The findings also indicate that among second generation immigrants, the binary ethnic classification is less suitable in 1995 than in 1983.

The Role of Leadership in the Migration Decision-Making Process

ABSTRACT The study explores the involvement of leadership in the migration decision-making process of North American immigrants to Israel. The results, based on qualitative and quantitative research methods, indicate that more than half of the immigrants in our sample did not attribute much significance to the influence of a specific leader. However, they acknowledged the involvement of several influential figures; some of these leaders worked in Israeli and Jewish organizations and served as opinion or servant leaders and others were veteran immigrants who served as role models. Apparently, leadership in voluntary migration is manifested as distributed leadership and virtual e-leadership.

Public attitudes toward policies related to labor migrants in Israel

Abstract This paper focuses on determinants of public attitudes in Israel toward two policy questions. First, should immigration policy measures be more restrictive toward overseas labor migrants? Secondly, should overseas labor migrants be replaced with Palestinian workers? Based on an attitudinal survey administered to a representative sample of the Israeli population, the findings indicate that support for a restrictive immigration policy is quite prevalent among Israelis. However, the survey reveals only moderate consent for replacing overseas labor migrants with Palestinian commuters. Attitudes toward a restrictive immigration policy are explained by the perceived threat posed by overseas labor migrants to social and economic interests. This threat is explained by the respondents’ socio-economic characteristics. Attitudes toward the replacement policy are partially explained by the sense of threat to the Jewish character of the state posed by overseas migrants, but are also attributed to several personal characteristics. Policy implications of these findings are discussed.