Flora F. T. Chiang Thomas A. Birtch Keywords:  Performance appraisal, Culture, International management, Institutions, Human Resources The Study: This article empirically examines how cultural factors influence the main purposes and practices of performance appraisal in multinational organizations. Drawing on a sample of 1,749 employees from the banking sector across seven countries in Europe, Asia, and North America, the study investigates whether cultural dimensions — such

Marcela Peterson In many debates about people management, there is frequent discussion of meritocracy, performance, and the importance of rewarding those who deliver more. However, there is a structural aspect that rarely receives proper attention: the compatibility between the reward system and the culture in which it is applied. Implementing imported policies — especially variable compensation models anchored in the logic of “the more you perform, the more you earn”— can ge

Alicia A. Grandey Julie H. Kern Michael R. Frone  Keywords:  Verbal abuse, Workplace aggression, Emotional labor, Exhaustion The Study: The article investigates fundamental differences between verbal abuse originating from individuals external to the organization (customers, patients, or users) and verbal abuse instigated by internal members (supervisors and coworkers). Prior literature had emphasized external aggression and emotional labor occupations almost exclusively, bu

Marcela Peterson When compensation is discussed, most conversations revolve around market competitiveness, meritocracy, and productivity. Yet there is a deeply structuring phenomenon that shapes how professionals perceive fairness, motivation, and belonging: the influence of cultural values on pay preferences. This factor, often overlooked in HR decisions, can generate tension, frustration, and even emotional disengagement from work when it is not taken into account when desi

Philippe R. Goldin et al  Keywords:  Emotion, Emotion Regulation, Reappraisal, Suppression, fMRI The Study:  This article investigates the neural mechanisms underlying two contrasting emotion regulation strategies: cognitive reappraisal, considered an early intervention in the emotion-generative process, and expressive suppression, conceptualized as a later behavioral strategy. Although theoretical models distinguish these strategies by timing and mode of action, few studies

Marcela Peterson In discussions about the challenges of modern professional life, attention is often given to productivity, long working hours, and overload. However, there is an equally present, silent, and deeply exhausting phenomenon that permeates the daily lives of those trying to balance work and family responsibilities: work–family conflict. Although frequently treated as a “natural part of adult life,” this conflict generates emotional, cognitive, and behavioral impac

John R. Hollenbeck D. Scott DeRue Rick Guzzo  Keywords:  Teams, Human Resources, Team Composition, Team Training, Task Design The Study:  This article identifies critical gaps between the scientific literature on team functioning and the HR practices commonly used to manage teams. The authors argue that although I/O psychology has generated robust knowledge about factors that influence team performance, these insights are not consistently translated into organizational practi

Marcela Peterson When discussing the challenges faced by young people in the labor market, attention often focuses on unemployment, job insecurity, or barriers to professional entry. However, there is a silent, persistent, and deeply harmful phenomenon cutting across sectors and countries: negative psychosocial exposures in the workplace — such as job insecurity, low autonomy, excessive workload, harassment, and unfair relationships. According to evidence synthesized by Shiel

Courtney L. Holladay Miguel A. Quiñones  Keywords:  Training, Self-Efficacy, Practice Variability, Transfer, Motivation The Study:  The article provides a comprehensive examination of how practice variability during training affects learning transfer, emphasizing self-efficacy generality as the central psychological mechanism. The authors argue that exposure to diverse task conditions fosters broader beliefs about one’s capabilities, whereas constant practice leads to narrowe

Marcela Peterson In healthcare services, discussions often focus on workload, care pressure, and lack of resources. However, there is a silent, frequent, and deeply destructive phenomenon that affects the daily work of professionals in both primary and tertiary care: verbal aggression perpetrated by patients and family members. Research shows that this form of violence, often normalized within care environments, leaves intense emotional scars, alters how work is carried out,

Michele J. Gelfand Lisa H. Nishii Jana L. Raver Keywords: Culture, Social Norms, Tightness, Looseness, Multilevel The Study: This article presents a comprehensive theory of the cultural construct of tightness–looseness, defined as the degree to which social norms are strong and sanctions for deviance are strict within a society. The authors argue that this construct complements prevailing value-based cultural frameworks, offering a broader understanding of cross-cultural var

Marcela Peterson In many performance appraisal systems, it is assumed that objective criteria are sufficient to ensure fairness. However, research shows that managers’ emotions and subjective judgments often carry more weight than is commonly acknowledged and, in some cases, directly influence ratings, rewards, and even employees’ future career prospects. One of the most significant findings in this area is that the quality of the relationship between leader and subordinate s

Daniel C. Ganster et al Keywords: Organizational Stress, Intervention, Occupational Health, Relaxation, Cognitive Restructuring The Study: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a stress-management training program in the workplace through a field experiment involving 79 public-agency employees randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. The program consisted of 16 hours of training over eight weeks and included cognitive restructuring and progressive relaxation tec

Marcela Peterson In many organizations, encouraging employees’ self-confidence is seen almost as a leadership obligation. The prevailing assumption is that individuals who “believe in themselves” are more motivated, learn faster, and deliver better results. However, research suggests that this relationship is far from straightforward. The study by Vancouver and Kendall (2006) reveals a counterintuitive phenomenon: in learning and preparation contexts, higher self-confidence m

Miriam Erez P. Christopher Earley Keywords: Goal-Setting, Culture, Participation, Performance, Goal Acceptance The Study: This study investigated whether different goal-setting strategies affect goal acceptance and performance depending on cultural context. Three approaches were assessed: assigned goals, goals set by a representative in negotiation with the researcher, and group-set goals. Participants were 180 students from three cultural groups: Americans, urban Israelis,

Regina Eckert et al Keywords: 360-Degree Feedback, Rating Discrepancy, Culture, Leadership, Implicit Leadership Theories The Study: This study examined whether cultural values shape discrepancies between self-ratings and observer ratings in 360-degree leadership feedback. Using data from 4,019 managers across 31 countries, the authors investigated how self and others evaluated three leadership skills: decisiveness, leading employees, and managerial composure. Main Findings: C

Aminu Mamman Mohamed Sulaiman Alfadli Fadel 04/12/2025 Keywords:  Pay systems, Culture, Compensation preferences, Cross-cultural comparison, Human Resource Management The Study:  This article examines how employees from four different countries assess the criteria used to determine compensation, focusing on factors such as performance, responsibility, education, seniority, and cost of living. Using a sample of 420 employees from Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Hong Kong,

Eric A. Surface Erich C. Dierdorff  Keywords:  Training Needs, Work Experience, Capability, Needs Assessment, Performance The Study:  This study examined whether employees’ work experience and capability influence their perceptions of training needs and their actual performance. Using a sample of workers with varying levels of experience and ability, the authors assessed whether these attributes affect the accuracy with which individuals recognize their developmental needs an

Julia Brandl Anne-Katrin Neyer  Keywords:  Cognitive Adjustment, Cross-Cultural Training, Global Virtual Teams, Anxiety, Uncertainty The Study:  This article examines how cross-cultural training influences cognitive adjustment among members of global virtual teams. The authors argue that cultural diversity and technology-mediated communication increase anxiety and uncertainty, challenging trust development and effective interaction. Drawing on Anxiety/Uncertainty Management t

Marcela Peterson Organizations often rely on norms and procedures to maintain order. In some contexts, as shown in the research of Chan and Gelfand (1996), this tightening of rules — known as tightness  — creates environments where deviation is minimally tolerated. In others, flexibility ( looseness ) allows for freer interpretation of norms, encouraging adaptation and creativity. This cultural difference is more than an academic curiosity; it shows up directly in the daily l