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Thesis defences

PhD Oral Exam - Arman Motaghi, Business Administration

Three Essays on The Role of Managers in The Application of Control Practices in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises


Date & time
Monday, December 13, 2021 (all day)
Cost

This event is free

Organization

School of Graduate Studies

Contact

Dolly Grewal

Where

Online

When studying for a doctoral degree (PhD), candidates submit a thesis that provides a critical review of the current state of knowledge of the thesis subject as well as the student’s own contributions to the subject. The distinguishing criterion of doctoral graduate research is a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

Once accepted, the candidate presents the thesis orally. This oral exam is open to the public.

Abstract

This dissertation comprises three essays that investigate the role of managers in how controls are applied, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The first essay examines the role of managers - , in a dynamic relationship with their work context, - in the application of controls, which can exhibit sameness or variation among work contexts or among managers. The findings illustrate how managers use controls based on their prior learnings, conditionings, and style, while operating within the rules and necessities of their work context. Variations in these personal elements or the rules and necessities of the work context lead to variation in practices. Findings also show that managers use controls to structure the field towards their favorable conditions.

The second essay examines how managers adapt their use of controls in response to perceived employee variations in terms of commitment, respect for the rules and expectations, and their belief regarding the organization and its objectives. Findings illustrate that managers use controls in a form of an exchange to accommodate desired behavior and limit or control undesired behavior. Furthermore, managers develop an understanding (a perception) of employees’ commitment, attachment, and belief, which leads them to use controls differently in response to variation in these elements. Additional findings indicate that high commitment and attachment between managers and employees, reduce managers' need to rely on control practices regarding their employees.

The third essay of this dissertation examines how controls could be used by managers to bully employees or in creating an environment that fosters bullying. Findings show how managers' use of controls in a laissez-faire approach contributes toward an environment that fosters bullying while arbitrary use of controls to bully reinforces the act of bullying. Furthermore, informal use of controls facilitates the above uses.

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