Understanding Grit in the Workplace Based on Work Orientation

Main Article Content

JinSoo Choi
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2133-108X
SuRan Lee
YoungWoo Sohn

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the characteristics of Korean grit in the workplace. We conducted a cluster analysis to identify gritty workers' subgroups based on their work orientation(job, career, and calling). Organization-related variables such as organizational citizenship behavior, job crafting, job satisfaction, life satisfaction, workaholic, and intention to leave were used to explore potential group-specific differences. Among 361 Korean workers, the gritty worker group (n = 198) was selected based on the median score of grit. Our results show that gritty workers were subdivided into three groups: job-oriented grit(n = 44), neutral-oriented grit(n = 98), calling-oriented grit(n = 56). Calling-oriented grit scored mostly the highest in our study variables except intention to leave. However, job-oriented grit scored the highest in intention to leave, but mostly the lowest in the rest of the study variables. Our results suggest that not only grit but also their work orientation should be considered to improve understanding of grit in the Korean workplace.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Article Details

How to Cite
Choi, J., Lee, S., & Sohn, Y. (2021). Understanding Grit in the Workplace: Based on Work Orientation. Korean Journal of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 34(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.24230/kjiop.v34i1.1-25
Section
Empirical Articles

Funding data

References

Bellah, R. N., Madsen, R., Sullivan, W. M., Swidler, A., & Tipton, S. M. (1985). Habits of the heart. Berkeley. Cal., University of California Press.https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/64.3.802 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/64.3.802

Blalock, D. V., Young, K. C., & Kleiman, E. M. (2015). Stability amidst turmoil: Grit buffers the effects of negative life events on suicidal ideation. Psychiatry research, 228(3), 781-784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2015.04.041 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2015.04.041

Bowman, N. A., Hill, P. L., Denson, N., & Bronkema, R. (2015). Keep on truckin’or stay the course? Exploring grit dimensions as differential predictors of educational achievement, satisfaction, and intentions. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 6(6), 639- 645.https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550615574300 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550615574300

Brayfield, A. H., & Rothe, H. F. (1951). An index of job satisfaction. Journal of Applied Psychology, 35(5), 307-311. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0055617 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/h0055617

Bunderson, J. S., & Thompson, J. A. (2009). The call of the wild: Zookeepers, callings, and the double-edged sword of deeply meaningful work. Administrative Science Quarterly, 54(1), 32-57. https://doi.org/10.2189/asqu.2009.54.1.32 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2189/asqu.2009.54.1.32

Cardador, M. T., Dane, E., & Pratt, M. G. (2011). Linking calling orientations to organizational attachment via organizational instrumentality. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 79(2), 367-378.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2011.03.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2011.03.009

Choi, J., Park, Y., & Lee, H. (2020). Validation study of Korean version of modernism calling scale. The Journal of Career Educational Research, 33(3), 191-209. https://doi.org/10.32341/JCER.2020.9.33.3.191 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32341/JCER.2020.9.33.3.191

Choi, J., Permpongaree, S., Kim, N., Choi, Y., & Sohn, Y. W. (2020). The double-edged sword of a calling: The mediating role of harmonious and obsessive passions in the relationship between a calling, workaholism, and work engagement. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 6724. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186724 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186724

Choi, J., Sohn, Y. W., & Lee, S. (2020). The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Employees’ Organizational Citizenship Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model of Grit and Meaning Orientation. Sustainability, 12(13), 5411. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135411 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135411

Credé, M., Tynan, M. C., & Harms, P. D. (2017). Much ado about grit: A meta-analytic synthesis of the grit literature. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 113(3), 492- 511.https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000102 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000102

Diener, E. D., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75.https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13

Dik, B. J., & Duffy, R. D. (2012). Make your job a calling: How the psychology of vocation can change your life at work. Templeton Foundation Press.

Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Simon and Scribner.

Duckworth, A., & Eskreis-Winkler L. (2013). True Grit. Aps Observer, 26(3) https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/true-grit

Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087- 1101. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087

Duckworth, A. L., Quinn, P. D., & Seligman, M. E. (2009). Positive predictors of teacher effectiveness. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(6), 540-547. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760903157232 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760903157232

Duffy, R. D., Allan, B. A., & Dik, B. J. (2011). The presence of a calling and academic satisfaction: Examining potential mediators. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 79(1), 74-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.11.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.11.001

Duffy, R. D., & Dik, B. J. (2013). Research on calling: What have we learned and where are we going?. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 83(3), 428-436.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2013.06.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2013.06.006

Eskreis-Winkler, L., Duckworth, A. L., Shulman, E. P., & Beal, S. (2014). The grit effect: Predicting retention in the military, the workplace, school and marriage. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 36.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00036 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00036

Gandal, N., Roccas, S., Sagiv, L., & Wrzesniewski, A. (2005). Personal Value Priorities of Economists. Human Relations, 58(10), 1227- 1252. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726705058911 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726705058911

Ha, Y., Choi, Y., Eun, H., & Sohn, Y. (2014). Validation of the Korean version of multidimensional calling measure (MCM-K). Korean Journal of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 27(1), 191-220. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24230/kjiop.v27i1.191-220

Hair, J. F., & Black, W. C. (2000). Cluster analysis. In L. G. Grimm & P. R. Yarnold (Eds.), Reading and understanding more multivariate statistics (p. 147-205). American Psychological Association.

Hamilton, K. (2014). Why grit matters in the workplace. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2014/10/grit-iq-workplace-persistence-failure/

Howard, M. C., Hoffman, M. E. (2018). Variable-centered, person-centered, and person- specific approaches: where theory meets the method, Organizational Research Methods, 21(4), 846-876. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428117744021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428117744021

Ion, A., Mindu, A., & Gorbănescu, A. (2017). Grit in the workplace: Hype or ripe?. Personality and Individual Differences, 111, 163- 168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.02.012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.02.012

Jo, J., & Kim, M. (2015). Development and validation of the job crafting scale. Journal of Life-span Studies, 5(3), 39-46. http://dx.doi.org/10.30528/jolss.2015.5.3.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30528/jolss.2015.5.3.003

Jo, M., & Cha, K. (1988). International comparison of quality of life. Seoul: Jipmoondang.

Jordan, M. H., Gabriel, T. J., Teasley, R., Walker, W. J., & Schraeder, M. (2015). An integrative approach to identifying factors related to long-term career commitments: A military example. Career Development International, 20(2), 163-178. https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-05-2013-0071 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-05-2013-0071

Jung, H., Jang, S., & Tak, J. (2018). The mediation effect of positie emotion on the relationship between grit and job crafting. Korean Association of Human Resource Development, 21(1), 31-51.http://dx.doi.org/10.24991/KJHRD.2018.3.21.1.31 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24991/KJHRD.2018.3.21.1.31

Kim, U. C., & Park, Y. S. (1988). Success attribution among Korean students and adults: An indigeneous perspective. The Korean Journal of Educational Psychology, 12(2), 51-54.

Kim, J., Lee, S., & Yang, S. (2018). A Study of the characteristic of Korean grit: Examning multidimensional clustering of grit. Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issues, 24(2), 131-151.http://dx.doi.org/10.20406/kjcs.2018.5.24.2.131 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20406/kjcs.2018.5.24.2.131

Lan, G., Okechuku, C., Zhang, H., & Cao, J. (2013). Impact of job satisfaction and personal values on the work orientation of Chinese accounting practitioners. Journal of Business Ethics, 112(4), 627-640.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1562-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1562-5

Lee, J. L., & Kwon, D. H. (2016). An analysis of structural relationship among locus of control, minset, grit, and academic achievement. Korean Journal of Youth Studies, 23(11), 245-264.http://dx.doi.org/10.21509/KJYS.2016.11.23.11.245 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21509/KJYS.2016.11.23.11.245

Lee, K., & Allen, N. J. (2002). Organizational citizenship behavior and workplace deviance: The role of affect and cognitions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(1), 131-142.https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.1.131 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.1.131

Lee, S., & Sohn, Y. W. (2013). What are the strong predictors of academic achievement? - Deliberate practice and grit. The Korean Journal of School Psychology, 10(3), 349-366. DOI:10.16983/kjsp.2013.10.3.349 DOI: https://doi.org/10.16983/kjsp.2013.10.3.349

Lee, Y. J., Shin, Y., Park, J., & Sohn, Y. W. (2018). Effects of grit on organizational citizenship behavior: Mediating role of job positive affect and occupational self-efficacy. Korean Journal of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 31(1), 327-352. http://dx.doi.org/10.24230/ksiop.31.1.201802.327 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24230/kjiop.v31i1.327-352

Lim, H. (2017). The current state of grit research and its need for reconceptualization. The Korean Journal of Educational Psychology, 31(4), 663-381.http://dx.doi.org/10.17286/KJEP.2017.31.4.04 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17286/KJEP.2017.31.4.04

Meriac, J. P., Slifka, J. S., & LaBat, L. R. (2015). Work ethic and grit: An examination of empirical redundancy. Personality and Individual Differences, 86, 401-405.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.07.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.07.009

Meyer, J. P., Stanley, L. J., Vandenberg, R. J. (2013). A person-centered approach to the study of commitment, Human Resource Management Review, 23(2), 190-202.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2012.07.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2012.07.007

Min, J., Kang, E., & Lee, H. (2017). The relation between calling and career adaptability: The moderating effects of living a calling. Korean Journal of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 30(4) 491-516.http://dx.doi.org/10.24230/ksiop.30.4.201711.491 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24230/kjiop.v30i4.491-516

Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. (2017). Reports on 2030 generations’ lifestyle and perceived work opportunities.https://www.mcst.go.kr/kor/s_notice/press/pressView.jsp?pSeq=16477

Mobley, W. H. (1982). Employee turnover, Causes, Consequences and Control Reading, Addison-Wesley.

Moon, Y. (2011). Effects of Individual motivation on turnover intention among social workers: Focused on the mediation effects of multiple commitment. Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies, 42(2), 493-523. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16999/kasws.2011.42.2.493

Morin, A. J. S., Boudrias, J. S., Marsh, H. W., McInerney, D. M., Dagenais-Desmarais, V., Madore, I., Litalien, D. (2017). Complementary variable- and person-centered approaches to the dimensionality of psychometric constructs: application to psychological wellbeing at work, Journal of Business and Psychology, 32(4), 395-419. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-016-9448-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-016-9448-7

Morin, A. J. S., Morizot, J., Boudrias, J.-S., Madore, I. (2011). A multifoci person- centered perspective on workplace affective commitment: a latent profile/factor mixture analysis, Organizational Research Methods, 14(1), 58-90.https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428109356476 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428109356476

Neugebauer, R. L. M. (2017). The Gritty on Gratification: Do Grittier Employees Have Greater Job Satisfaction? (Doctoral dissertation, Grand Canyon University).https://search.proquest.com/docview/1972124298?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true

Park. B. (2015). The effects of work overload on workaholism and work engagement: Focus on the moderation of organizational health. (Masters dissertation). Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea.https://scienceon.kisti.re.kr/srch/selectPORSrchArticle.do?cn=DIKO0013820164&dbt=DIKO

Park, J., Sohn, Y. W., & Ha, Y. J. (2016). South Korean salespersons’ calling, job performance, and organizational citizenship behavior: The mediating role of occupational self-efficacy. Journal of Career Assessment, 24(3), 415-428. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072715599354 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072715599354

Porter, G. (1996). Organizational impact of workaholism: Suggestions for researching the negative outcomes of excessive work. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 1(1), 70-84. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.1.1.70 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.1.1.70

Robertson-Kraft, C., & Duckworth, A. L. (2014). True grit: Trait-level perseverance and passion for long-term goals predicts effectiveness and retention among novice teachers. Teachers College Record, 116(3), 1-27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/016146811411600306

Ryu, Y., & Yang, S. (2017). On the mediating effects of grit and prosocial behavior in the relationship between intrinsic vs. prosocial motivation and life satisfaction. The Korean Journal of Developing Psychology, 30(4), 93-115.

Salles, A., Cohen, G. L., & Mueller, C. M. (2014). The relationship between grit and resident well-being. The American Journal of Surgery, 207(2), 251-254.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.09.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.09.006

Schaufeli, W. B., Shimazu, A., & Taris, T. W. (2009). Being driven to work excessively hard: The evaluation of a two-factor measure of workaholism in the Netherlands and Japan. Cross-cultural Research, 43(4), 320-348.https://doi.org/10.1177/1069397109337239 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1069397109337239

Seo. A., Jung, Y., & Sohn, Y. W. (2018). The influence of job crafting and task identity on meaningful work: The moderated mediating effect of perceived organizational support. Korean Journal of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 31(1), 149-173. http://dx.doi.org/10.24230/ksiop.31.1.201802.149 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24230/kjiop.v31i1.149-173

Shea-Van Fossen, R. J., & Vredenburgh, D. J. (2014). Exploring differences in work's meaning: An investigation of individual attributes associated with work orientations. Journal of Behavioral and Applied Management, 15(2), 101-120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21818/001c.17940

Shin. M., & Ahn, D. (2015). Comparisons of perceptions of success, grit, aspirations, and achievement goal orientation between gifted and non-gifted high school students. Journal of Gifted/Talented Education, 25(4), 607-628.https://doi.org/10.9722/JGTE.2015.25.4.607 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9722/JGTE.2015.25.4.607

Singh, K., & Jha, S. D. (2008). Positive and negative affect, and grit as predictors of happiness and life satisfaction. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 34(2), 40-45.

Steger, M. F., Dik, B. J., & Duffy, R. D. (2012). Measuring meaningful work: The work and meaning inventory (WAMI). Journal of Career Assessment, 20(3), 322-337. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072711436160 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072711436160

Streiner, D. L. (2003). Being inconsistent about consistency: When coefficient alpha does and doesn't matter. Journal of Personality Assessment, 80(3), 217-222. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327752JPA8003_01 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327752JPA8003_01

Suzuki, Y., Tamesue, D., Asahi, K., & Ishikawa, Y. (2015). Grit and work engagement: A cross-sectional study. PloS One, 10(9): e0137501.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137501 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137501

Tims, M., Bakker, A. B., & Derks, D. (2012). Development and validation of the job crafting scale. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 80(1), 173-186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2011.05.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2011.05.009

Wolters, C. A., & Hussain, M. (2015). Investigating grit and its relations with college students' self-regulated learning and academic achievement. Metacognition and Learning, 10(3), 293-311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11409-014-9128-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11409-014-9128-9

Wrzesniewski, A., McCauley, C., Rozin, P., & Schwartz, B. (1997). Jobs, careers, and callings: People's relations to their work. Journal of Research in Personality, 31(1), 21-33.https://doi.org/10.1006/jrpe.1997.2162 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/jrpe.1997.2162

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>