Prioritizing Psychosocial Work Environment Factors for Knowledge Workers using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)

Abstract

Existing literature has acknowledged various factors that influence psychosocial work environment. Nevertheless, these factors need prioritisation so that policymakers and practitioners may design an effective workplace policy. This study prioritises psychosocial work environment factors using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Fifty-seven experts from six knowledge-based industries of Pakistan provided their inputs on 36 dimensions grouped in 6 domains. Using the AHP approach, the results suggest that out of six domains, Conflict and Offensive Behaviour is the most critical domain for knowledge workers in Pakistan. Further, this study calculated Global Composite Priority Weight (GCPW) for decision making and indexing purposes for the Psychosocial Work environment. Based on GCPW results, the study suggests that highly prioritised dimensions are conflicts and quarrels, workplace bullying, unpleasant teasing, organisational justice and the threat of violence. This study also finds the traditional well studied factors such as quantitative demands, demands for hiding emotions and emotional demands are relatively least important factors for knowledge workers. The results offer the guidelines for policymakers and organisational behaviour practitioners to devise new workplace policies for knowledge workers at the national and international levels. The prioritised factors give new avenues for academic researchers to investigate further on these factors.