Exploring the Impact of Collective Bargaining Agreements on Employee Performance Management

191 Pages·2017·1.06 MB·English

Walden University
ScholarWorks
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Collection
2017
Exploring the Impact of Collective Bargaining
Agreements on Employee Performance
Management
Nana Gyesie
Walden University
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Walden University

College of Management and Technology

This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by

Nana Gyesie

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects,
and that any and all revisions required by
the review committee have been made.

Review Committee
Dr. Patricia Fusch, Committee Chairperson, Management Faculty
Dr. Donna Brown, Committee Member, Management Faculty
Dr. Raghu Korrapati, University Reviewer, Management Faculty

Chief Academic Officer
Eric Riedel, Ph.D.

Walden University
2017
Abstract

Exploring the Impact of Collective Bargaining Agreements on Employee Performance
Management
by
Nana Gyesie

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Management

Walden University
June 2017
Abstract
As of 2014, union density in the United States had dropped compared to union density
during the 1950s. Collective bargaining agreements are the foundational agreement for all
issues related to salary, benefits, and working conditions. The purpose of this multiple
case study was to explore how collective bargaining agreements hindered or enabled
managers from creating and sustaining high performance work practices. The conceptual
framework included Walton and McKersie’s work on behavioral theories for labor
negotiations, human capital, and collective bargaining, and Huselid’s work on high
performance work practices. Fifteen respondents across 5 labor unions in Washington DC
were selected through a randomized purposive sampling strategy for face-to-face and
telephone semi-structured interviews. Additional sources of data included current and
archived collective bargaining agreements, a reflective journal, and personal memos that
were analyzed using Yin’s 5-step analysis process. The following 5 themes were
identified: performance management and accountability, organizational and union
culture, intrinsic motivation and performance recognition, management practices, and the
future sustainability of unions. These findings may help unionized organizations in the
Washington DC metro area consider changing negative hiring and retention practices.
Collective bargaining agreements, without a partnership framework linked to
organizational sustainability, can hinder the creation and sustenance of high performance
work practices in labor unions.
Exploring the Impact of Collective Bargaining Agreements on Employee Performance
Management
by
Nana Gyesie

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Management

Walden University
June 2017
Dedication
I dedicate this dissertation to my wife, Jaclyn, and my young sons, Gabriel and
Benjamin.
Acknowledgments
I dedicate this dissertation, which culminates reaching an important milestone to
my two young sons, Gabriel and Benjamin. When I had doubts about having what it takes
to earn a doctorate, my wife Jaclyn encouraged me to apply nonetheless. Thank you for
all your support.
Special thanks to my dissertation chair, Dr. Patricia Fusch. She was always
patient, helpful, encouraging, and responsive to all my questions throughout my
dissertation journey. Without her kind and encouraging guidance, I would have faltered
along my doctoral journey.
I also thank my go to my second dissertation committee member, Dr. Donna
Brown. She provided great counsel on shaping my final dissertation. This dissertation
would not have been possible without my committee. I also thank, my URR, Dr.
Korrapti, for his commitment and constructive feedback on my research.
Finally, this is to acknowledge the support and love from my parents and siblings
in Ghana.
Table of Contents
List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi
List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vii
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1
Background of the Study ...............................................................................................2
Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................7
Research Questions ........................................................................................................8
Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................8
High-Performance Work Places/High-Performance Work Systems ...................... 8
A Behavioral Theory on Labor Negotiations.......................................................... 9
Human Capital in Labor Unions ........................................................................... 10
Collective Bargaining ........................................................................................... 11
Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................12
Definitions....................................................................................................................14
Assumptions .................................................................................................................16
Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................16
Limitations ...................................................................................................................17
Significance of the Study .............................................................................................18
Significance to Practice......................................................................................... 21
Significance to Theory .......................................................................................... 22
Significance to Social Change .............................................................................. 22
Summary and Transition ..............................................................................................23
i
Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................25
Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................27
Literature Review.........................................................................................................30
High-performance Work Practices ..............................................................................30
Human Capital Theory .................................................................................................32
A Primer on Unions .....................................................................................................35
Collective Bargaining ..................................................................................................38
A Behavioral Theory on Labor Negotiations...............................................................42
Distributive Bargaining ......................................................................................... 43
Integrative Bargaining .......................................................................................... 43
Attitudinal Restructuring ...................................................................................... 43
Intraorganizational Bargaining ............................................................................. 44
Union and Management Cooperation ................................................................... 45
Workplace Conditions Between the Early 19th and 20th Centuries ..................... 48
Scientific Management ......................................................................................... 49
The Post-War Recession and the Great Depression ............................................. 50
The National Labor Relations Act ........................................................................ 52
Rise of Labor Unions ............................................................................................ 53
Decline of Labor Unions ....................................................................................... 55
Current State of Labor Unions .............................................................................. 58
HPWP in Labor Unions ...............................................................................................62
Summary and Conclusions ..........................................................................................63
ii
Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................65
Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................65
Selection and Justification of Qualitative Approach ............................................ 66
Multiple Case Study .............................................................................................. 68
Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................69
Mitigating Researcher Bias ................................................................................... 70
Methodology ................................................................................................................71
Participant Selection Logic ................................................................................... 71
Instrumentation ..................................................................................................... 74
Procedures for Recruitment, Participation, and Data Collection .......................... 75
Data Analysis Plan ................................................................................................ 76
Issues of Trustworthiness .............................................................................................77
Credibility ............................................................................................................. 78
Transferability ....................................................................................................... 79
Dependability ........................................................................................................ 79
Confirmability ....................................................................................................... 80
Ethical Procedures ................................................................................................ 80
Summary ......................................................................................................................82
Chapter 4: Results ..............................................................................................................83
Research Setting...........................................................................................................83
Demographics ..............................................................................................................84
Data Collection ............................................................................................................86
iii