Exploring the Viability of an Organizational Readiness Assessment for Participatory Management Programs in a Passenger Airline Carrier

Abstract

This study attempted to determine the feasibility of conducting an organizational readiness assessment for a participatory management program for maintenance workers within a large passenger airline. Organizational readiness factors consisted of the motivation climate of the department, supervisory behaviors, and the employee's orientation to group problem-solving. The results of a questionnaire study among 73 line maintenance workers revealed that only the group orientation factors predicted employees’ willingness to participate in group process improvement programs. However, strong and statistically significant correlations were shown among the willingness to participate variable and employee job satisfaction. The study revealed that employee group orientation moderates the relationships between the independent and criterion factors. Results also revealed that the employee’s personality orientation moderates the relationships between the organizational factors and employees’ willingness to participate in group process improvement programs.