Workplace humor in public sector organizations in the Sultanate of Oman
Date
2013
Authors
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Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Abstract
This thesis is an attempt to study a humanistic phenomenon where humour is viewed as new managerial and leadership traits for employee motivation and work performance. The study observed that humour at the workplace happening in government departments in Oman is among the reasons that prevent or encourage the management to use humour in appropriate situations. A comprehensive study was also conducted on the effects of humour on the work performance of the employees in the public sectors in Oman. This study is phenomenological in nature based on relevant arguments using case study as the design where samples were selected among employees who have served in three supervisory positions at twenty-five ministries in Oman. Factor analysis, multivariate regression, Pearson chi-square and Spearman’s rank order correlation were used to analyse the data and to test the hypothesis. Results of the study showed that humour is evident in Omani public environments entailing its uniqueness as a milieu that promotes humour at work with a sensed tendency towards using affiliative humour style among Omani public managers in addition to being self-enhancing on a personal level. It was also found that humour is not exerted at all times during working hours. Instead, it is situational in nature. In terms of performance, humour generally affects performance in different ways but with a tendency towards the development of positive attitudes and work atmosphere where it was found that humour directly affects humanitarian outcomes such as group cohesiveness, communication and stress reduction. However, it indirectly affects the job-related outcomes such as creativity, organizational culture, leadership and management performance. Hence, this research explores the opportunities for a new humanitarian perspective of management
Description
Thesis (Ph.D (Management))
Keywords
Management, Humour