1. MEDIA RELEASE February 2015
Training the key to success
ACU’s Associate Dean Research at the Faculty of Law and Business, Professor Thomas Lange, has
found workplace orientation training to be a powerful predictor of job satisfaction, according to his
study, recently published in world-leading HR journal, Human Resource Management.
A growing body of research explores the relationship between job satisfaction and important
workplace attitudes and behaviours; including job performance, commitment, motivation,
absenteeism and quitting intentions. Professor Lange’s study indicates that orientation training is a
strong predictor of job satisfaction and facilitates the workplace socialisation of new employees,
specifically by reducing the uncertainty about aspects of the job that are not always contractible.
The findings have important implications for human resource managers and practitioners, calling for
a redirection of resources towards orientation training. This is especially important in a highly
dynamic labour market environment where employee mobility and career changes have become the
norm rather than the exception.
“Orientation training matters It arguably matters even more, given its predominance as a stronger
predicator of job satisfaction than other type of training activity. Redirection of resources towards
orientation training could increase the effectiveness of human resource strategies for creating an
engaged and motivated workforce,” said Professor Lange.
The findings are based on survey responses from nearly 7,000 male and female British employees in
both public and private-sector organisations, using data from the British Household Panel Survey
(BHPS). The positive relationship between orientation training and job satisfaction predominantly
occurs in the public sector, for both men and women.
“The findings of our study reflect the view that public-sector firms are model employers who are
more likely to exert effort and use tactics that ensure newcomers are competent with and socially
accepted in various aspects of their work,” said Professor Lange.
Full reference of study:
Tabvuma, V, Georgellis, Y. and Lange, T. (2015), “Orientation training and job satisfaction: A sector and gender analysis”,
Human Resource Management, Early View access, doi: 10.1002/hrm.21650.
Bio Note:
Professor Thomas Lange is a leading international authority in the empirical Human Resource Management and
Organisational Behaviour research arena. An alumnus of the London School of Economics, he served several governments
as Specialist Advisor. His research-informed policy proposals were debated publicly during parliamentary sessions in the
United Kingdom and his academic work has been covered widely by international press and media outlets. His scholarship
informed the policy work of, amongst others, the World Bank, ILO, OECD, European Commission, and the United Nations.
He currently serves ACU as Associate Dean Research at the Faculty of Law and Business. Previous leadership positions
included Research Dean, Dean (Leadership & Change Management), Executive Dean and Pro Vice Chancellor in the United
Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.