The document discusses different ways that the meaning of work can be defined, including the significance an individual attributes to work, their work values and orientations, and the coherence between their work and what they seek from work. It examines definitions of meaning of work that look at job, career, and calling. The document also explores cross-cultural perspectives on work, finding that a generalized work ethic may exist across diverse cultures, not just Protestant cultures. It suggests that more research is needed to understand work-related beliefs across cultures without preconceived definitions.

1. Meaning of work
In different cultures

2. What is the meaning of work in our
post-modern times?
http://web.hec.ca/criteos/fichiers/upload/MOW_in_MTimes_EMM200804.pdf

3. The significance of work
The concept of “meaning of work” can be
defined as the significance the subject
attributes to work, his representations of
work, and the importance it has in his life.
This way of defining the meaning of work
leads to identifying work definition models, as
Meaning of Working International team
members proposed it, or the centrality of
work, as Morse and Weiss stated it.
http://web.hec.ca/criteos/fichiers/upload/MOW_in_MTimes_EMM200804.pdf

4. • Work is central in many cultures, although every culture has
its own values and conceptions about it. However, it seems
that work is important and significant for a majority of people
considering the time that individuals devote to work in their
lives, the numerous functions which it accomplishes for them,
and the fact that work is closely linked with other important
aspects of daily life such as family, leisure, religion, and
community life.
• Generally, one can find at least three patterns: a job, a career
and a call.
http://web.hec.ca/criteos/fichiers/upload/MOW_in_MTimes_EMM200804.pdf

5. The work values
• The concept “meaning of work” can also be defined as one’s
orientation or inclination toward work, what the subject is
seeking in the work, and the intents that guide his actions.
Super and Šverko have found 5 major orientations:
autonomy, social advancement, self-achievement, social
interactions and risk-taking.
http://web.hec.ca/criteos/fichiers/upload/MOW_in_MTimes_EMM200804.pdf

6. The work coherence
• The concept “meaning of work” can be defined as an effect of coherence
between the subject and the work he does, the level of harmony or balance
he achieves in his relationship to work . The thoughts that one has about .
something else tend to organize themselves into balanced systems and,
consequently, any incoherence leads to activities (intellectual, emotional,
behavioral, etc.) to restore that balance. The sense of coherence that the
subject finds in his relationship to work gives him a sense of psychological
security and serenity which helps him to cope with the challenges that are
inevitably involved in performing his duties
• In our studies on work organization, the meaning of work is defined as an
effect of coherence between the characteristics sought by a subject in his
work and those he perceives in the work he does. The characteristics the
individual seeks in his work should reflect his work values as those mentioned
previously.
http://web.hec.ca/criteos/fichiers/upload/MOW_in_MTimes_EMM200804.pdf

7. Characteristics of Meaningful Work
http://web.hec.ca/criteos/fichiers/upload/MOW_in_MTimes_EMM200804.pdf

8. Today in other cultures
• Even today, despite an increase in studies of a comparative nature, there is
still some speculation and not much hard evidence about the concept of a
work ethic outside the Protestant world. Much of the comparative
research conducted recently, seems to suggest that a work ethic
(described as a commitment to asceticism, hard work, thrift, frugality,
postponement of gratification, etc., considered to be Protestant values;
Furnham & Muhuideen, 1994), is no longer found only where there is a
dominant Protestant value system. In fact, much of the cross-cultural
research by Furnham and his associates (Baguma & Furnham, 1993;
Furnham, 1991; Furnham & Muhuideen, 1984; Furnham & Rajamanickam,
1992; Furnham et al., 1993) suggests that paradoxically there seems to be
a stronger commitment to a "Protestant" work ethic among non-
Protestant cultures. There is empirical evidence now that seems to
suggest that a generalized work ethic may be found in diverse cultures and
is not necessarily linked to Protestant values.
• Toward a cross-cultural understanding of work-related beliefs
• F S Niles. Human Relations. New York: Jul 1999. Vol. 52, Iss. 7; pg. 855, 13
pgs

9. Issues
• Thus far, research in non-Western countries has been based on existing
definitions and instruments and comparative studies have largely
examined the relative strength of the work ethic in different cultures. Very
few have attempted to examine how different cultures perceive work-related
values. Ideally, studies should be undertaken to examine work-related
beliefs in diverse cultures without any preconceived ideas of what
they are or ought to be. An impressive number of comparative studies
have been carried out in many different cultural settings (see Furnham,
1991, for a listing) but few of them have examined the unique aspects of
differences in work-related beliefs between cultures or their causes. A
study undertaken to compare core beliefs in diverse cultures is important
but it would be an enormous task, therefore this study is limited in design.
• Toward a cross-cultural understanding of work-related beliefs
• F S Niles. Human Relations. New York: Jul 1999. Vol. 52, Iss. 7; pg. 855, 13
pgs

10. What is the meaning of work in your
country?
• Significance
• Work values
• Work coherence