3. Chapter Three: Methodology
3.8 Data Analysis
MBA Dissertation Management style and its influence on Organisational Climate
the department they belonged to. These questions were addressed individually and respondents were told that the objective of the biographic details was to gain a profile as weB as overall perceptions in the mill. Further, reporting of results would not be done on an individual basis, results would be combined to reflect the overall perception in the mill. Also, the high ethical standards of the research was also mentioned.
To analyse each item within management style individually, the mean score, which provided the sum of the observed values divided by the number of observations, was computed. The standard deviation calculated represented the deviation from the mean for each item.
In order to detern1ine the organisational climate, mean scores for each respondent were calculated for each factor of organisational climate as given in Figure 3.1 i.e. for factor 1 to factor 6. These scores were further aggregated for each respondent to determine the overall climate within the mill. Standard deviation was also calculated to analyse the spread of the data. Aggregation of the scores for managements style and organisational climate were necessary in order to determine the relationship between these variables.
3.8.2 Inferential statistical analysis
Since this study is concerned with determining the relationship between two variables, management style and organisational climate, correlation analysis was identified as the most appropriate test for the hypothesis given below (Cooper & Schindler : 2001):
H, The dominant management style in the mill is Impoverished Leader i.e.
low concern for people and low concern for production.
Management style in the mill has an influence on the organisational climate within the mill.
The hypothesis given below relate the management style to various factors of organisational climate:
Management style is related to the leadership support and facilitation of employees.
Management style influences the overall image of the
Shamine Rajcoomar Page 77 03.07.2002
MBA Dissertation
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Management style and its influence on Organisational Climate
company.
Management style influences the level of conflict and ambiguity in the Mill.
Management style influences the current regulations and organisational pressure.
Management style influences job challenge, importance
and variety. I': t!. :.~
Management style is related to workgroup co-operation, warmth and friendliness.
Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient (r) was used to estimate the degree of linear association between the variables as given in the hypothesis. The correlation coefficient (r) varies over a range of + I through 0 to -1. According to Cooper & Schindler (200 I), correlation coefficients reveal the magnitude and direction of the relationships. The magnitude is the degree to which variables move in unison or opposition. The coefficient sign on the other hand signifies the direction of the relationship. Direction tells us whether large values on one variable are associated with large values on the other (and small values with small values). When the values correspond in this way, the two variables have a positive relationship: as one increases the other increases (Cooper & Schindler : 2001).
According to Jill Hussey & Roger Hussey (1997), the correlation coefficient (r) can be interpreted as follows, see Table 3-7.
Value of Pearson's Interpreta t ion Coefficient (r)
1.0 Perfect positive linear association 0.90 to 0.99 Very high positive correlation 0.07 to 0.89 High positive correlation 0.40 to 0.69 Medium positive correlation
o
to 0.39 Low positive correlation0 No linear association
o
to - 0.39 Low negative correlation -0.40 to - 0.69 Medium negative correlation -0.7 to -.089 High negative correlation -0.90 to -0.99 Very high negative correlationTable 3-7 Interpretation of Pearson's coefficient, Source -JiII Hussey & Roger H ussey (1997)
Testing the significance of (r) was done using the two tailed t test at a confidence level of 0.01 (99%) and 0.05 (95%). The objective of the above test is to discover whether the coefficient representing the relationship between the two variables is real or does it occur by chance.
Cooper & Schindler (2001) advise, this calculation should be done before (r) is used in any further calculations or comparisons.
3.9 Ethical considerations
According to Cooper & Schindler (2001), the goal of ethics in research is to ensure that no one is hanned or suffers adverse consequences from research activities. It states further, that, in general research must be designed so a respondent does not suffer physical:'ha,m; discomfort, pain, embarrassment, or loss of privacy.
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MBA Dissertation Management style and its influence on Organisational Climate
This study, which looks at management style in the mill and its influence on the organisational climate, is a very sensitive topic. Due to this, care was taken throughout the research process to ensure high ethical standards were maintained. Although ethical issues have been addressed to some extent in the previous sections of this chapter, it was considered necessary to highlight them again from a holistic research perspective. Actions taken towards this end were:
,1 . t \
• consent was received from senior management to conduct this research at the mill.
• on the day of administration of the survey, managers and supervisors were informed via. email of the purpose of the survey and they were kindly requested to allow their staff time to fi 11 the surveys in.
• the preamble in the questionnaire clearly stated:
o the research objectives and purpose of the study.
o respondents were requested not to write their names on the survey due to the sensitivity of the information requested.
o results would be combined to reflect the overall perception in the mill i.e. focus will not be on individual responses.