Abstract

Using a cross-national survey of Citibank employees, the authors examine the persistent influence of ethnic background on perceptions of choice and its association with performance, intrinsic motivation, and well-being in the workplace. Among Anglo-Americans, task choice was prominent and associated with benefits for employees, whereas choices made by supervisors were less salient and associated with detriments. In contrast, task choice was less prominent for Asians/Asian-Americans and exhibited diminished associations with benefits for employees, whereas choices made by supervisors were prominent and associated with benefits. Hispanic-Americans did not differ from Anglo-Americans, but Latin Americans resembled Asians on several dimensions.

Citation

Iyengar, Sheena, Sanford DeVoe, Claudius Hildebrand, and John Remarek. "Reconsidering Choice in the Design of Work: The Persistent Influence of Ethnicity Within a Multinational Organization." Working paper, Columbia Business School, November 23, 2010.

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