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On the trait antecedents and outcomes of service worker job resourcefulness: A hierarchical model approach

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Abstract

In a series of three studies, a four-level hierarchical model of personality was employed to identify the antecedents and three validating criteria of a newly developed trait labeledjob resourcefulness (JR). JR is defined as an enduring disposition to garner scarce resources and overcome obstacles in pursuit of job-related goals. Across three service contexts, JR was shown to predict customer orientation, self-rated performance, and supervisor-rated performance. The results also revealed that the hierarchical model accounted for more variance in performance ratings than one version of the 5-Factor Model of personality. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for selecting high-performing service employees.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma, USA

    Jane W. Licata

  2. Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma, USA

    John C. Mowen & Tom J. Brown

  3. University of South Florida, Lakeland

    Eric G. Harris

Authors
  1. Jane W. Licata
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  2. John C. Mowen
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  3. Eric G. Harris
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  4. Tom J. Brown
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Additional information

Jane W. Licata (jwlicata@sosu.edu) is an associate professor of marketing at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She has published articles in theJournal of Public Policy and Marketing, theJournal of Marketing Research, and theJournal of Business Research.

John C. Mowen (jcmmkt@okstate.edu) is Regents Professor and holds the Noble Chair of Marketing Strategy at Oklahoma State University. He has published articles in numerous journals, including theJournal of the Academy of Marketing Sciences, theJournal of Marketing Research, theJournal of Marketing, Decisions Sciences, theJournal of Applied Psychology, and theJournal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Eric G. Harris (eharris@lklnd.usf.edu) is an assistant professor of marketing at the University of South Florida. He has published articles inPsychology & Marketing and theJournal of Marketing Management.

Tom J. Brown (tomb@okstate.edu) is an associate professor of marketing at Oklahoma State University. He has published in numerous journals, including theJournal of Marketing, theJournal of Marketing Research, and theJournal of Consumer Research.

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Licata, J.W., Mowen, J.C., Harris, E.G. et al. On the trait antecedents and outcomes of service worker job resourcefulness: A hierarchical model approach. JAMS 31, 256–271 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1177/0092070303031003004

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