Does the effect of power distance moderate the relation between person environment fit and job satisfaction leading to job performance? Evidence from Afghanistan and Pakistan

Habib Gul,Muhammad Usman,Yuxin Liu,Zahid Rehman,Khalil Jebran

doi:10.1016/j.fbj.2017.12.001

Abstract

This study examines the relation between person-environment (P-E) fit with job satisfaction and job (task) performance. This cross-national study is based on faculty members of universities from Kabul (180) and Islamabad (270). Data is collected through self administered questionnaires and is tested following the Baron and Kenny (1986) moderation and mediation procedures. The studycontend that power distance moderates the relationship between P-E fit and job satisfaction. Contrary to expectation, power distance does not moderate the hypothesized relationship. This study finds that individual's satisfaction from high power distance culture depends on their cultural norms because they give more preference to cultural norms than their own needs and demands. Moreover, results show the direct relationship of P-E fit with job performance in Afghanistan (Kabul) and Pakistan (Islamabad). We compared the results of hypothesized model cross-nationally and find some variation regarding employee's job satisfaction. Job satisfaction partially mediates the relationships between P-E fit and job performance in Kabul, while in Islamabad job satisfaction fully mediate the relationship between P-E fit and job performance. By asserting the role of culture, this study developed practical implications for both theorists and practitioners.

Highlights

The selected countries (i.e. Afghanistan and Pakitan) labor market is facing serious challenges such as, lack of knowledge, skills, and abilities because of the political instability, the insurgencies, law and order situations from the last three decades specially Afghanistan is affected more than any country in the world
This study investigated the relationship of P-E fit with job satisfaction, job performance in the high power distance cultures
The estimations are based on the capital of two countries Afghanistan and Pakistan, named Islamabad and Kabul

Summary

Introduction

The selected countries (i.e. Afghanistan and Pakitan) labor market is facing serious challenges such as, lack of knowledge, skills, and abilities because of the political instability, the insurgencies, law and order situations from the last three decades specially Afghanistan is affected more than any country in the world. The lack of unskilled or misfit have serious detrimental consequences both for the organization and the employees (Lee & Ramaswami, 2013). A match or compatibility between the environment and the situation is essential. Person environment (P-E) fit is a construct that has achieved a lot of consideration from scholars and practitioners to understand the attitudes and behaviors at workplace since last two decades

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