WORKPLACE BULLYING: AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR AND ITS EFFECT ON JOB

156 Pages·2008·0.55 MB·English

WORKPLACE BULLYING: AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR AND ITS EFFECT ON JOB
SATISFACTION AND PRODUCTIVITY
by
Judith Lynn Fisher-Blando

A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX
February 2008
© 2008 by Judith Fisher-Blando
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WORKPLACE BULLYING: AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR AND ITS EFFECT ON JOB
SATISFACTION AND PRODUCTIVITY
by
Judith Lynn Fisher-Blando
January 2008
Approved:
Jason M. Etchegaray, Ph.D., Mentor
Cheryl E. Allison, Ph.D., Committee Member
s
Linda S. Wing, Ph.D., Committee Member
Accepted and Signed: 7
//z
Jason . chegarap Date
//&d
Accepted and Signed:
Date
Accepted and Signed:
Dean, School of Advanced Studies
University of Phoenix
ABSTRACT
Workplace bullying is a problem and is an important organizational and social concern.
This study examined workplace bullying and its effect on job satisfaction and
productivity. The research showed how bullying behavior affects a target’s ability to
perform their jobs, which can impact the morale of employees and the financial
performances of an organization. Workplace bullying is difficult to identify and contain
because the harassment usually takes place covertly, many times out of sight of
supervisors and coworkers. The central findings of this study (a) showed the frequency of
workplace bullying, (b) examined the specific types of mistreatment and negative acts
experienced by targets, (c) determined physical and mental stress associated with
bullying, and (d) revealed a relationship between workplace bullying and its effect on job
satisfaction and productivity. The data in this study found that 75% of participants
reported witnessing mistreatment of coworkers sometime throughout their careers, 47%
have been bullied during their career, and 27% admitted to being a target of a bully in the
last 12 months. This study also examined the most frequent negative acts by workplace
bullies as reported by the participants. Although the sample is limited, findings suggest
that employees perceive their organizational environment to be filled with abusive
bosses, coworkers and negative acts that should be cause for concern. This study not only
examined the effects of a toxic work environment; the study is also one of the first studies
to research the positive effects of bullying and given the criteria for bullying
(intentionally malicious, persistent and consistent, and meant to gain control), asked if a
participant might recognize bullying traits in themselves.
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DEDICATION
It is with a promising vision of the future that I dedicate this work to the targets of
workplace bullies, whose daily struggles I witness, whose determination I applaud, and
whose strength I admire. You endure, you persevere, and I trust you will succeed.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The support of many wonderful people—family, friends, coworkers, doctoral
cohort, and especially my dissertation committee—made this research project possible.
First, I would like to thank the brave participants who admitted to witnessing workplace
bullying. Without these people, the problem of workplace bullying would remain silent.
I am grateful to the many leaders at the University of Phoenix that I had the
opportunity to learn from during this journey, specifically the support of my gifted and
insightful committee: mentor Dr. Jason Etchegaray and committee members Dr. Cheryl
Allison and Dr. Linda Wing. I appreciate their confidence in me and their honesty,
flexibility, and encouragement in helping me achieve this milestone in my life.
I would also like to thank my family, specifically my Father, George Fisher, my
brother, Michael, my sister-in-law, Bev Blando, and my friends and coworkers, Sandy
Reiss - my fellow target and Pamela Strong, and family and friends who always made it a
point to ask (and care) how my dissertation work was progressing. Without their
unconditional love and support, I would not have made it this far in my academic career.
Finally, I express gratitude to my doctoral colleagues at the University of Phoenix
who encouraged me throughout the entire doctoral and dissertation process. I have the
deepest respect for these lifelong friends for their uncompromising ambition and
dedication to their families, careers, and to themselves in their pursuit of life long
learning. Specifically I would like to thank my Learning Team Laura Grandgenett and
Jody Sandwisch, and my cohorts Cheryl Kulokowsi-Lentz, Tom Woodruff, and Rick
McClelland for unselfishly sharing their knowledge and experience. I hold you all in high
esteem.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES.............................................................................................................xi
LIST OF FIGURES..........................................................................................................xii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................1
Background...................................................................................................................3
Problem Statement........................................................................................................3
Purpose..........................................................................................................................4
Significance of the Study..............................................................................................6
Nature of the Study.......................................................................................................9
Hypothesis and Research Questions...........................................................................10
Conceptual and Theoretical Framework.....................................................................12
Definitions...................................................................................................................13
Assumptions................................................................................................................15
Scope, Limitations, and Delimitations........................................................................16
Summary.....................................................................................................................17
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW..........................................................................20
Organizational Theories..............................................................................................20
Historical Overview....................................................................................................22
Current Findings.........................................................................................................24
Alternative Viewpoints...............................................................................................25
Bullying.......................................................................................................................27
Research of Adult Bullying..................................................................................27
Bully Characteristics.............................................................................................29
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Typical Workplace Bullies...................................................................................32
Constant Critic......................................................................................................33
Two-Headed Snake...............................................................................................33
Screaming Mimi....................................................................................................35
Controller..............................................................................................................36
Gatekeeper............................................................................................................36
Accidental Bully...................................................................................................37
Chronic Bully........................................................................................................38
Opportunistic Bully...............................................................................................39
Serial Bully...........................................................................................................40
Narcissist...............................................................................................................40
Cyber-Bully...........................................................................................................42
Substance-Abusing Bully......................................................................................42
Bully Phases................................................................................................................42
Target Characteristics.................................................................................................43
Work Environment......................................................................................................44
Effects of Bullying on Productivity............................................................................47
Job Satisfaction.....................................................................................................48
Physical Symptoms...............................................................................................48
Mental Health........................................................................................................49
Summary.....................................................................................................................50
CHAPTER 3: METHOD..................................................................................................53
Research Method and Quantitative Design Appropriateness.....................................53
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Population, Sampling, Data Collecting Procedures, and Rationale............................57
Validity.......................................................................................................................60
Internal..................................................................................................................60
External.................................................................................................................61
Threats to External Validity..................................................................................61
Data Analysis..............................................................................................................62
Summary.....................................................................................................................63
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS..................................................................................................65
Validity and Reliability Analysis of Instrument.........................................................65
Data Collection Procedures.........................................................................................66
Survey and Response Rate..........................................................................................67
Sample and Demographics.........................................................................................69
Data Analysis Procedures...........................................................................................70
Pilot Study Findings....................................................................................................70
Response Rate.............................................................................................................71
Findings.......................................................................................................................72
Summary.....................................................................................................................87
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS....................................89
Conclusions.................................................................................................................89
Method........................................................................................................................89
Summary of Key Findings..........................................................................................90
Significance to Leadership..........................................................................................93
Implications of Present Study Limitations..................................................................99
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Recommendations.....................................................................................................101
Summary...................................................................................................................101
REFERENCES...............................................................................................................105
APPENDIX A: SURVEY...............................................................................................116
APPENDIX B: INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE.......................................................121
APPENDIX C: PILOT SURVEY CRITIQUE SHEET..................................................123
APPENDIX D: DEMOGRAPHICS...............................................................................124
APENDIX E: PILOT STUDY VALIDATION WITH NAMIE’S MY WORKPLACE
CULTURE STUDY USING SPEARMAN’S RANK CORRELATION.......................126
APPENDIX F: TYPE OF EMPLOYER.........................................................................127
APPENDIX G: ORGANIZATIONAL RANK OF PARTICIPANT..............................128
APPENDIX H: TYPE OF MISTREATMENT..............................................................129
APPENDIX I: PROTECTION.......................................................................................131
APPENDIX J: IMPACT OF BULLYING ON PARTICIPANT’S JOB SATISFACTION
.........................................................................................................................................132
APPENDIX K: POSITIVE IMPACTS OF BULLYING...............................................133
APPENDIX L: IMPACT OF BULLYING ON JOB SATISFACTION........................134
APPENDIX M: IMPACT ON THE ORGANIZATION................................................135
APPENDIX N: WHAT STOPPED THE MISTREATMENT.......................................136
APPENDIX O: HOMAN RESOURCES RESPONSE...................................................137
APPENDIX P: EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY RESPONSE...................138
APPENDIX Q: MANAGEMENT RESPONSE.............................................................139
APPENDIX R: SENIOR MANAGEMENT RESPONSE..............................................140