The Meaning of Working in U.S. and Japanese Local Governments at Three Hierarchical Levels

Abstract

The research program undertaken by the Meaning of Working (MOW) International Research Team has documented effects of individual characteristics and macrosocioeconomic variables on work-related values and beliefs in different countries. The present study adds another dimension to this work by studying intact organizations-local governments in the United States and Japan-in place of the usual MOW samples of occupational groups. The measures used cover the three core facets of the “Meaning of Working”-work centrality, work goals, and entitlement/obligation norms. By studying intact organizations, the effects of other contextual variables-organization, region, and hierarchical level-in addition to country become evident. © 1994, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.