Title: Understanding the polarity between work alienation and the importance of work: evidence from Turkey

Authors: Başak Uçanok Tan

Addresses: Istanbul Bilgi University, Eski Silahtarağa Elektrik Santralı, Kazım Karabekir Cad. No. 2/13, 34060 Eyüp İstanbul, Turkey

Abstract: The main aim of this paper is to investigate the conceptual and empirical grounds of how work alienation and work centrality differ from one another. The concern that these two variables may lie on different axes of the same concept is tackled in relation to work values. In this respect, the effects of work values (intrinsic vs. extrinsic work values) on both work alienation and work centrality have been examined. Turkish employees working in SMEs are targeted to fill out a questionnaire which includes Turkish work values inventory developed by Tevrüz and Turgut (2004), Mottaz's (1981) work alienation scale and Kanungo's (1982) work centrality inventory. In total 209 Turkish employees participated in the study. The preliminary findings showed that work alienation and work centrality are distinct concepts and that only work centrality could be predicted by work values.

Keywords: work alienation; work centrality; work values; Turkey; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises.

DOI: 10.1504/MEJM.2014.060531

Middle East Journal of Management, 2014 Vol.1 No.3, pp.232 - 244

Received: 21 Sep 2013
Accepted: 06 Oct 2013
Published online: 17 Jun 2014 *

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