Public Administration Perspective

Exploring the Model of social loafing: A mixed method

Document Type : Research Article (with mixed approaches)

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student of Kharazmi University

2 Associate Professor, Kharazmi University

3 Assistant Professor, Kharazmi University

Abstract

Purpose: The main purpose of this research was to understand the dimensions and indicators of social loafing and to explore the factors affecting it in the public sector of the oil refining and distribution industry.Design/Methodology/Approach: The present study has a mixed approach, the qualitative part of which has been done by thematic analysis method, and the quantitative part has been done according to the pattern identified in the qualitative part. In the qualitative part, subject literature and semi-structured interviews were used, purposeful and snowball interviews were done with industry experts and in quantitative part a questionnaire was designed based on extractive pattern and completed by public sector employees in the industry using cluster sampling method.  Research Findings: As a result of data analysis, eight indicators, two dimensions (adequate and Competitive) and five factors (work, individual, organizational and managerial, group and social) were identified, which were confirmed in quantitative part by validity and accuracy of structural equation modeling.Limitations & Consequences: The qualitative part is based on the interpretive paradigm and in this section, researcher’s mentality and their assumptions have been influential in extracting the concepts, the length of the research questionnaire and the cross-sectional nature of the data reduces the reliability of the results.Practical Consequences: Reduction individual effort in groups compared to individual work is a common problem in workgroups. Identifying the nature and factors affecting it can reduce this destructive phenomenon in organizations.Innovation or value of the Article: This study adds to the research by examining the conceptualization of social loafing and the wide range of factors influencing this phenomenon in the organizational workplace.

Keywords

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Public Administration Perspective
Volume 10, Issue 4 - Serial Number 40
January 2020
Pages 149-174