Skip to main content
Log in

Organizational Sociotechnical Diagnosis of Managerial Retention : SAP — LAP Framework

  • Research Paper
  • Framework
  • Published:
Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Turnover of managerial employees at junior and middle levels has been widely recognized as a critical organizational concern. The problem happens to be more intensified for organizations belonging to service sector as the services provided to client / customer groups get directly affected. A number of studies have shown that compensation factor alone does not explain the retention of managerial employees in the organization. The focus of developing the present study lies in designing and balancing the organizational social and technical subsystems elements in order to moderate the turnover of junior and middle level managers in this public sector enterprise. A number of selective junior and middle level managers were interviewed in — depth and content analysis was made for categorization of level — wise qualitative responses. The SAP-LAP framework has been adopted as the diagnostic instrument of organizational analysis. The findings from the study shows that the organizational sociotechnical factors have an impact on managerial retention and the suggestive actions from the study attempt to find solutions to the problem of managerial turnover faced by the company. SAP-sdLAP framework as an instrument to the diagnosis of organizational sociotechnical system provides useful inputs to the management for future course of actions. Maintaining the balance between the social and technical subsystem factors is a critical prerequisite to managerial retention.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander J., Bloom J., Nuchols B. (1994). Nursing Turnover and Hospital Efficiency: An Organization-level Analysis, Industrial Relations, 33(4):505–520.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barak M.E.M., Nissly J.A., Levin A. (2001). Antecedents to Retention and Turnover among Child Welfare, Social Work, and Other Human Service Employees: What Can We Learn from Past Research? A Review and Meta-analysis, Social Service Review, 75(4):625–661.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brenner M., Brown J. and Canter D. (1985). The Research Interview: Uses and Approaches, Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Checkland P. and Scholes J. (1990). Soft Systems Methodology in Action, Wiley, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheung Y. and Bal J. (1998). Process Analysis Techniques and Tools for Business Improvements, Business Process Management Journal, 4(4):274–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummings T. and Srivastava S. (1977). The Management of Work, Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Sitter L.U., den Hertog J.F., Dankbaar B. (1997). From Complex Organizations with Simple Jobs to Simple Organizations with Complex Jobs, Human Relations, 50(5):497–534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deery-Schmitt D.M. and Todd C.M. (1995). A Conceptual Model for Studying Turnover Among Family Child Care Providers, Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 10(1):121–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dierendonck D. Van, Le Blanc P. M., Breukelen W. V. (2002). Supervisory Behaviour, Reciprocity and Subordinate Absenteeism, Leadership and Organization Development, 23(2):121–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eijnatten F.M. (1998). Developments in Socio-technical Systems Design, in Drenth, P.J. and H. Thierry, H., (Eds.). Handbook of Work and Organizational Psychology, Vol 4, 2nd ed., Psychology Press, Hove.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberger R.S., Armeli B., Rexwinkel P., D. Lynch and Rhoades L. (2002). Reciprocation of Perceived Organizational Support, Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(1):42–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emery F. (1959). Characteristics of Sociotechnical Systems, Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, Doc. 527.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emery F. and Trist E. (1965). The Causal Texture of Organizational Environments, Human Relations, 18(1):21–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fox W.M. (1995). Sociotechnical System Principles and Guidelines: Past and Present, Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 31(1):95–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geurts S., Schaufeli W., de Jong J. (1998). Burnout and Intention to Leave Among Mental Health-Care Professionals: A Social Psychological Approach, Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 17(3):341–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillham Bill (2000). Case Study Research Methods, London: Continuum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heather A.E. (2003). Building a Workplace of Choice: Using the Work Environment to Attract and Retain Top Talent, Journal of Facilities Management, 2(3):244–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hendrick H.W. (1991). Ergonomics in Organizational Design and Management, Ergonomics, 34(6):743–756.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holstein J.A. and Gubrium J.F. (1995) The Active Interview, Sage, London.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hom P.W., Caranikas-Walker F., Prussia G.E., Griffeth R.W. (1992). A Meta-analytical Structural Equations Analysis of a Model of Employee Turnover, Journal of Applied Psychology, 77(6):890–909.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johlke M.C., Stamper L.C., Shoemaker M.E. (2001). Antecedents to Boundary Spanner Received Organizational Support, Journal of Managerial Psychology, 17(2):116–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiyak H.A., Namazi K.H. and Kahana E.F. (1997). Job Commitment and Turnover Among Women Working in Facilities Serving Older Persons, Research on Aging, 19(4):223–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawler E.E. (1996). High-involvement Management: Participative Strategies for Improving Organizational Performance, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee T. and Mowday R. (1987). Voluntarily Leaving an Organization: An Empirical Investigation of Steers and Mowday’s Model of Turnover, Academy of Management Journal, 30(4):721–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lockwood D. and Ansari A. (1999). Recruiting and Retaining Scarce Information Technology Talent: A Focus Group Study, Industrial Management and Data Systems, 99(6):251–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macy B.A., Thompson R. and Farias G.F. (1995, August). Describing and Assessing High Performance Work Practices in Innovative Organizations: A Benchmarking Study of 82 North American Organizations, Paper Presented at National Academy of Management Meetings, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller O.J. (1996). Employee Turnover in the Public Sector, Garland, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell J.Clyde (1983). Case and Situation Analysis, The Sociological Review, 31(2):187–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moos R.H. (1979). Work Environment Scale Manual, (2nd ed.), Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Reilly C.A., Chatman, J., Caldwell D.F. (1991). People & Organization Culture: A Profile Comparison Approach, Academy of Management Journal, 34(3):487–510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pasmore W. and Sherwood J. (1978). (Eds.) Sociotechnical Systems: A Sourcebook, San Diego: University Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasmore W. (1988). Designing Effective Organizations: The Sociotechnical Systems Perspective, New York, Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pava C.H. (1983). Managing New Office Technology, Free Press, Rogers, EM, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perrow C. (1970). Organization Analysis: A Sociological Point of View, In H.L. Toshi (Eds.). Theories of Organization, Chicago, IL: St. Clair Press, pp. 128–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter L.W. and Steers R.M. (1973). Organizational Work and Personal Factors in Employee Turnover and Absenteeism, Psychological Bulletin, 80(2):151–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robie C., Ryan A.M., Schiemeder R.A., Parra L.F. and Smith P.C. (1998). The Relation Between Job Level and Job Satisfaction, Group and Organization Management, 23(4):470–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shani A.B.R., Grant R.M., Krishnan R. and Thompson E. (1992). Advanced Manufacturing Systems and Organizational Choice — Sociotechnical System Approach, California Management Review, 34(4):91–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spector P.E and Michaels C.E (1986). Personality and Employee Withdrawal: The Effects of Locus of Control on Turnover, Psychological Reports, 59(2):63–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stake R.E. (1995). The Art of Case Study Research, Sage, New Delhi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sushil (1999). Flexibility in Management, Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sushil (2001). SAP-LAP models, Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, 2(2):55–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor J.C. and Felten D.F. (1993). Performance by Design: Sociotechnical Systems in North America, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson J. and Bates F. (1957). Technology, Organization and Administration, Administrative Science Quarterly, 2(4):325–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trist E. and Bamforth K. (1951). Some Social and Psychological Consequences of the Long Wall Method of Coal-getting, Human Relations, 1(1):3–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trist E. (1982). The Environment and System-response Capability, Futures, April 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der vanquet, Emans B., Van der Vliert E. (1998). Motivating Effects of Task and Outcome Interdependence in Work Teams, Group & Organization Management, 23(2):124–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woods R.H. and Macaulay J.F. (1989). Rx for Turnover: Retention Programs that Work, The Cornell Hotel, Restaurant Administration Quarterly, 30(1):79–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods R.H. (1995). Managing Hospitality Human Resources, Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Motel Association, East Lansing, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodward J. (1958). Management and Technology, London: Her Majesty’s stationery Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright T.A. and Cropanzano R. (1998). Emotional Exhaustion as a Predictor of Job Performance and Voluntary Turnover, Journal of Applied Psychology, 83(3):486–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin, R.K. (1994). Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Sage, Beverly Hills, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuber A. (2001). A Career in Food Service Cons: High Turnover, Nations Restaurant News, 35(21):147–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • www.cmie.com/database/trends in trading industry in India/2007, 2008.

  • www.cygnusindia.com/ analysis of indian trading industry / 2007, 2008.

  • www.mmtclimited.com / Annual Reports of the Company / Management Discussion and Analysis Section: 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007–08.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Koustab Ghosh.

Additional information

Koustab Ghosh is presently working as a faculty in the area of organization behaviour and human resource management at Calcutta Business School, West Bengal, India. He has done his Ph.D. from Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSOM), Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. His specialization lies in organizational behaviour and human resource management. He has worked on various academic assignments and industrial projects with a number of organizations as part of his academic career. With more than seven years of experience in industry and academics, he has conducted a number of executive training programmes for various private and public sector organizations in India. He has published a number of academic research papers in journals of national and international repute. He is also on the editorial board of a few international journals and regularly reviews papers for a number of international and national journals. He has also contributed and presented papers in various national and international level seminars. He is a life member of Indian Society for Training and Development (ISTD).

Sangeeta Sahney is presently working as an Assistant Professor at Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSOM), Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. She did B.A. (Hons.) from the University of Calcutta, MBA from Bundelkhand University, and Ph.D. the Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Her specialization is in Consumer Behaviour, Marketing Management, Quality Management in Services, and Organizational Behaviour. Dr. Sahney is a Gold Medalist MBA, former faculty member at U.P Technical University and IIT Roorkee. She has several papers in national and international journals to her credit. She has also presented papers at various national and international level seminars, and won the best paper award. She is also the reviewer, and on the board of a few international journals. Prof. Sahney was seconded (on deputation) to the School of Management, Asian Institute of Technology Bangkok by the Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India in 2009. She is a member of All India Management Association (AIMA).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ghosh, K., Sahney, S. Organizational Sociotechnical Diagnosis of Managerial Retention : SAP — LAP Framework. Global J. Flexible Syst. Manage. 11, 75–88 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03396580

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03396580

Keywords

Navigation