No abstract

PurposeBased on the tenets of the conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study investigated the influence of different leadership styles on organizational performance in the context of a Eurasian country (i.e. Kazakhstan). It further examined the moderating role of corporate culture in the leadership-organizational performance relationship.Design/methodology/approachUsing the quantitative survey method, the study collected data from 321 managerial employees working in local and multinational corporations in Kazakhstan. The collected data were analysed using SPSS software, and factor analysis, path analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted to validate the hypotheses. Furthermore, structural equation modelling was developed to assess the moderating effects of the variables.FindingsThe findings reveal that among different leadership styles, transformational, transactional and paternal leadership have higher influences on organizational performance. Among different corporate cultures, clan culture appears to have higher moderating effects on the leadership-organizational performance relationship. The moderating role of corporate culture on the leadership influence-organizational performance relationship supports the “resource caravan” effects of the composition model theory.Research implicationsBased on the premises of the COR theory, this study suggests developing multiple leadership competencies among managerial employees to be more effective in any given organizational or country context. As a result of the inclusiveness of multiple competencies, the study further suggests the consideration of an “integrated leadership approach” in the Eurasian context. Consistent with the national cultural syndrome, and as preferred by employees, managers could focus on developing a clan or group culture to strengthen their influencing power on employees.Originality/valueThe study adopts the COR theory by considering leadership competencies as unique resources of individual managers, which suggests the development of an “integrated leadership approach” for better management development and improved organizational performance. Furthermore, the study contributes by validating the applicability of the “conservation of resources” and the “composition model” theories in leadership studies.

Considering the prevalence and importance of employee orientation training, this study investigates the long-term impact of employee orientation training on employee and firm performance of multinational corporations in Kazakhstan. The study further investigates employees' expectations of such learning opportunities to improve the effectiveness of orientation training. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey on 285 employees working in multinational corporations in Kazakhstan. Furthermore, four focus group discussions involving 20 employees from four organizations were arranged to identify employees' expectations of the content of orientation training. The findings revealed a significant effect of orientation training on long-term employee performance, such as job satisfaction, learning transfer, intrinsic motivation, and employee commitment, and firm performance, such as profitability, revenue growth, operational efficiency, product or service innovation, and customer satisfaction. The findings further identified gaps between new employees' expectations and current orientation training content in the post-Soviet transition economy context. Based on empirical evidence, the study provides some recommendations to improve the effectiveness of orientation training in the future. The findings contribute to the literature on workplace learning integrating the theoretical tenets and empirical evidence in a transition economy context. The study provides new insights about employees' expectations of orientation training to improve their workplace performance.

Based on the tenets of the uses and gratifications theory (UGT) of media, this study investigates the impact of information gratifications on the subjective wellbeing of social network users in a central Asian country. Data from 244 adolescents were collected using a convenience sampling method. The study reveals the effect of information gratifications on subjective wellbeing, though this influence appears to be moderated by user habits in terms of passion and obsession toward social network use. Furthermore, personality traits have a significant moderating influence on the relationship between information gratifications and subjective wellbeing. Using the empirical findings, this study offers recommendations to mitigate the negative effects of social networks on users' subjective wellbeing.

Considering the prevalence and increased use of online social networking sites (SNSs), the present study investigated the association between visiting SNSs and users’ subjective wellbeing. Data were collected from 251 participants and were analyzed using partial least square-based structural equation modeling. The findings showed that there was no significant direct influence of SNS use on users’ subjective wellbeing. Additionally, the study found a significant mediating influence of passion on the association between SNS visits and subjective wellbeing. Moreover, the study did not find any significant negative mediating impact of obsession with SNS visits and association with subjective wellbeing. Among various personality traits, openness to experience had a positive moderating impact and neuroticism had a negative moderating impact on the association between SNS visits and subjective wellbeing among SNS users. The study provides implications for managers and parents regarding improved SNS use and increased subjective wellbeing.