Predicting positive self-efficacy in group problem solving

✍ Scribed by Kay N. Wolf

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 799 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1044-8004
• DOI: 10.1002/hrdq.3920080209

✦ Synopsis

Problem-solving groups are increasingly being used to involve employees in improving organizational performance. This study looked at people working in an organization that had reported group problem-solving activities. It examined attributes including orientation toward group problem solving, general problem-solving confidence, and expertise as well as demographic characteristics to determine their relative contributions to reported self-efficacy in solving work problems in groups. Respondents (n = 288) completed questionnaires to assess the variables. Using stepwise multiple regression, it was found that educational level, expertise in the work area, problem-solving confidence, orientation toward group problem solving, and amount of previous participation in such groups explained 47 percent of the variance in reported self-efficacy. The results suggest that before inclusion in such groups, poorly educated people need training to increase their knowledge about the problem and to practice group problem solving.

Organizations today frequently employ problem-solving groups. Increased competition, decreased performance, low employee morale, and public demand for more efficient services prompt many organizations to adopt such work designs . Organizations benefit through increased organizational quality and productivity, while employees benefit through increased satisfaction and involvement in their daily work affairs (Caplan, 1993; Chi, Glaser, and Farr, 1988).

Yet although both organizations and individuals generally seem to benefit from problem-solving groups, not a11 employees enjoy participating (Hespe and Wall, 1974; Parnell, Bell, and Taylor, 1991;. Group problem solving will not translate into expected organizational performance gains if participants do