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Can you resist being cynical? A case study of cynicism and resistance towards employee development

van Elsland, Youri Cyril Nicolaas LU and Borglin, Kevin LU (2021) BUSN49 20211
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
This paper examines the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of cynical perceptions towards employee development through qualitative research. Based on a case study, data were gathered through 25 semi-structured interviews with both managers and subordinates at a company within the telecommunication industry. The empirical findings have been studied using the literature topics of strategic human resource management, normative control, cynicism and resistance. As the current literature hardly covers cynicism towards employee development, this paper demonstrates how normative control among other factors can lead to cynicism and resistance towards employee development. This study also contributes to the field of resistance by stretching the concept of... (More)
This paper examines the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of cynical perceptions towards employee development through qualitative research. Based on a case study, data were gathered through 25 semi-structured interviews with both managers and subordinates at a company within the telecommunication industry. The empirical findings have been studied using the literature topics of strategic human resource management, normative control, cynicism and resistance. As the current literature hardly covers cynicism towards employee development, this paper demonstrates how normative control among other factors can lead to cynicism and resistance towards employee development. This study also contributes to the field of resistance by stretching the concept of unintentional resistance further. By presenting the concept of ‘stagnation as resistance’, this study illustrates how unintentional opposition towards an organisational culture can be a form of resistance. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
van Elsland, Youri Cyril Nicolaas LU and Borglin, Kevin LU
supervisor
organization
course
BUSN49 20211
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Cynicism, Resistance, Unintentional Resistance, Normative Control, Employee Development, Personal Development Plans, Qualitative Research
language
English
id
9049431
date added to LUP
2021-06-22 14:12:28
date last changed
2021-06-22 14:12:31
@misc{9049431,
  abstract     = {{This paper examines the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of cynical perceptions towards employee development through qualitative research. Based on a case study, data were gathered through 25 semi-structured interviews with both managers and subordinates at a company within the telecommunication industry. The empirical findings have been studied using the literature topics of strategic human resource management, normative control, cynicism and resistance. As the current literature hardly covers cynicism towards employee development, this paper demonstrates how normative control among other factors can lead to cynicism and resistance towards employee development. This study also contributes to the field of resistance by stretching the concept of unintentional resistance further. By presenting the concept of ‘stagnation as resistance’, this study illustrates how unintentional opposition towards an organisational culture can be a form of resistance.}},
  author       = {{van Elsland, Youri Cyril Nicolaas and Borglin, Kevin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Can you resist being cynical? A case study of cynicism and resistance towards employee development}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}