Month/Year of Graduation

5-2019

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

First Advisor

Dr. Amy Rodie

Abstract

The importance of employees within a firm has led to an increased need in maximizing performance and productivity, while also minimizing the stress levels of employees. This study provides insight into two types of workload assignment of (1) receiving a task all at once, and (2) receiving a task in incremental sections. It investigates how a subject’s workload assignment preference can impact performance, productivity, and stress levels. In addition, it also looks at the predictor variables of the Big Five personality traits, locus of control, tolerance for ambiguity, uncertainty orientation, and need for cognition to determine if workload assignment preference can be accurately predicted. The results showed that there was an even split in workload assignment preference across the sample, and that employees who received a task based on their preferred type of workload assignment improved in performance and productivity, and had decreased stress levels. The study also showed that the predictor variables of openness, agreeableness, locus of control, uncertainty orientation, and need for cognition can accurately predict an employee’s workload assignment preference when used together in a binomial regression model. Therefore, by using this model, managers can accurately predict an employees’ workload assignment preference which can lead to increased performance and productivity, and decreased stress levels.

Download

Share

COinS