Management en levensbeschouwing in Nederland : een onderzoek naar opvattingen van managers in Nederland over de stijl van leidinggeven en HRM-beleid in relatie tot hun levensbeschouwing

Abstract

This is a research about the effect that a managers ideology may have on his management-opinons, especially about leadership and HRM. In an extended quantitative research have the researchers analyzed the opinions of about five hundred managers. They have therefore used a two-dimensional model for leadership with task orientation and people orientation as dimensions. For HRM is also a similar two dimensional model developed - and used - with control orientation and commitment orientation as dimensions. There is a significant effect of the protestant religion on the management opinions. The protestant managers are less people orientated in their leadership as non-christian and catholic managers and also less commitment orientated than non-christian and catholic managers. The orthodox- en modern-protestant managers have significant similar opinions, contrary to what might be expected. These surprising results have lead to a following qualitative research with in-depth interviews among about thirty protestants managers. The equality of their opinions was confirmed. The orthodox-protestant managers seem to have modern-protestant management-opinions. The dogma of ‘common grace’ can be pointed as an explanation for this phenomenon. Following research with questionnaires for managers and their employees and also with participative observations could give more insight in the effect of religion on management opinions. The interdisciplinary development of a management scale, with both leadership and HRM involved, could be a next step in further research.