title: Employee Perceptions of Fit, Intention to Quit, Organizational Commitment, Job Satisfaction and Work Engagement: Direct, Mediation and Moderation Effects

authors: Amerasinghe, Inakshie

subjects: Person-Environment Fit

abstract: This research examined important work related perceptions and attitudes of employees currently working across major industries in New Zealand to gain insight into factors, including person-environment fit and intention to quit, that could contribute to the overall success of an organization, and the well-being of individuals at work.
The research model consisted of three parts: part A examined employee fit perceptions, namely value congruence, demands-abilities fit and needs-supplies fit, in direct relation to intention to quit.  Part B proposed that the direct relationships predicted in part A would be mediated by organizational commitment, job satisfaction and work engagement.  Part C proposed that work-related attitudes (continuance commitment and job satisfaction) and employee perceptions (needs-supplies fit) would moderate the relationships between types of perceived fit and employee intention to quit.
Two hundred and two surveys were included in the data analyses which showed complete support for the relationships predicted in part A and B of the theoretical model.  Of the three fit types investigated in this study, it was found that needs-supplies fit had the strongest correlation with employee intention to quit.  A few other key findings were that affective commitment mediated the relationship between value congruence and intention to quit, and that both job satisfaction and work engagement mediated the relationship between demands-abilities fit and intention to quit.  No support was found for part C (moderated relationships).  Although no causal inferences should be drawn from these results, these findings highlight the importance of employee fit perceptions, by demonstrating how types of fit can impact upon an employee’s intention to quit both directly and indirectly through work-attitudes.
A major implication that can be drawn from this research is that business owners could benefit from focusing specifically on certain essential types of P-E fit during the recruitment and selection process by selecting future employees with personal values that align with the values of the organization, have abilities to match the demands of the job role and have needs that can be matched by the supplies an organization has to offer. Continually monitoring the fit perceptions and attitudes of current employees through the application of feedback systems is also encouraged.  Focusing on such factors provides employers with the opportunity to manage work-related perceptions and attitudes of employees in order to establish a healthy work-environment.

text: Employee Perceptions of Fit, Intention to Quit, Organizational Commitment, Job Satisfaction and Work Engagement: Direct, Mediation and Moderation Effects This research examined important work related perceptions and attitudes of employees currently working across major industries in New Zealand to gain insight into factors, including person-environment fit and intention to quit, that could contribute to the overall success of an organization, and the well-being of individuals at work.
The research model consisted of three parts: part A examined employee fit perceptions, namely value congruence, demands-abilities fit and needs-supplies fit, in direct relation to intention to quit.  Part B proposed that the direct relationships predicted in part A would be mediated by organizational commitment, job satisfaction and work engagement.  Part C proposed that work-related attitudes (continuance commitment and job satisfaction) and employee perceptions (needs-supplies fit) would moderate the relationships between types of perceived fit and employee intention to quit.
Two hundred and two surveys were included in the data analyses which showed complete support for the relationships predicted in part A and B of the theoretical model.  Of the three fit types investigated in this study, it was found that needs-supplies fit had the strongest correlation with employee intention to quit.  A few other key findings were that affective commitment mediated the relationship between value congruence and intention to quit, and that both job satisfaction and work engagement mediated the relationship between demands-abilities fit and intention to quit.  No support was found for part C (moderated relationships).  Although no causal inferences should be drawn from these results, these findings highlight the importance of employee fit perceptions, by demonstrating how types of fit can impact upon an employee’s intention to quit both directly and indirectly through work-attitudes.
A major implication that can be drawn from this research is that business owners could benefit from focusing specifically on certain essential types of P-E fit during the recruitment and selection process by selecting future employees with personal values that align with the values of the organization, have abilities to match the demands of the job role and have needs that can be matched by the supplies an organization has to offer. Continually monitoring the fit perceptions and attitudes of current employees through the application of feedback systems is also encouraged.  Focusing on such factors provides employers with the opportunity to manage work-related perceptions and attitudes of employees in order to establish a healthy work-environment.

year: 2014

title: Gene expression underlying ferret hair growth initiation induced by melatonin and modified by steroids

authors: Yu, Zhidong

abstract: Synchronised ferret winter pelage development induced by melatonin was utilised as an in vivo model for studying gene expression associated with the hair growth cycle.
The effects of melatonin and steroids on hair follicle growth initiation in flank skin samples were monitored by histology and immunocytochemistry. Melatonin implantation initiated hair growth within 10 days. Exogenous steroids delivered by slow-release subcutaneous implants had mainly inhibitory effects on spontaneous and melatonin-initiated hair growth, either when given simultaneously or prior to melatonin administration. 17β-oestradiol totally suppressed hair follicle growth in all circumstances, while the inhibitory effects of dexamethasone, testosterone and deoxycorticosterone were weaker and attenuated by melatonin. Progesterone given simultaneously with melatonin inhibited hair growth in males, but did not significantly affect female hair growth initiated by melatonin.

Gene expression underlying ferret hair growth was studied using an optimised differential display technique using two sets of complementary skin samples covering all growth initiation stages. The differential display band patterns for approximately 8% of all skin transcripts suggested that more than a thousand genes are required for hair follicle growth. Of the differentially expressed genes detected in a set of flank skin samples covering all proanagen stages, up to a half are likely to be specifically associated with hair growth.

The 150 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) discovered represented 112 unique sequences. Forty-two of these were aligned by sequence homology to known genes, while the remainder are likely to represent novel genes. Differential expression through the follicle growth cycle or after the treatments was confirmed for 21 out of 23 genes whose mRNAs were detectable by Northern blot hybridisation. Overall, expression alteration for most of these ESTs occurred prior to morphological changes in the skin associated with hair follicle reactivation. All the ESTs whose expression sites were detected by in situ hybridisation were localised to hair follicles. Some were detected only in certain stages of the hair follicle cycle, others in all growth stages, but at different levels. Classification of the identified ESTs suggested that apoptosis as well as fatty acid synthesis and cholesterol metabolism were closely associated with hair growth initiation, while cell interaction and motility were also particular prominent processes in hair follicle regrowth.

Additional DNA sequence information was obtained for ferret hair acidic keratin 8 (fHa8) and ferret cyclin D-interacting myb-like protein 1 (fDMP1). Both of these genes were expressed only in cortical cells in the keratogenous zone from mid-proanagen. fHa8 was expressed only in one side of the cortex, a feature has not previously been reported for other type I intermediate hair keratins. The restricted expression of fDMP1 and its smaller size suggested that it was an alternatively spliced form of the human and mouse homologues with a specialised function in the regulation of cortical cell proliferation and differentiation. Further studies on the expression regulation and function of the genes represented by the ESTs identified in this study promise to considerably advance our understanding of hair follicle growth control.

text: Gene expression underlying ferret hair growth initiation induced by melatonin and modified by steroids Synchronised ferret winter pelage development induced by melatonin was utilised as an in vivo model for studying gene expression associated with the hair growth cycle.
The effects of melatonin and steroids on hair follicle growth initiation in flank skin samples were monitored by histology and immunocytochemistry. Melatonin implantation initiated hair growth within 10 days. Exogenous steroids delivered by slow-release subcutaneous implants had mainly inhibitory effects on spontaneous and melatonin-initiated hair growth, either when given simultaneously or prior to melatonin administration. 17β-oestradiol totally suppressed hair follicle growth in all circumstances, while the inhibitory effects of dexamethasone, testosterone and deoxycorticosterone were weaker and attenuated by melatonin. Progesterone given simultaneously with melatonin inhibited hair growth in males, but did not significantly affect female hair growth initiated by melatonin.

Gene expression underlying ferret hair growth was studied using an optimised differential display technique using two sets of complementary skin samples covering all growth initiation stages. The differential display band patterns for approximately 8% of all skin transcripts suggested that more than a thousand genes are required for hair follicle growth. Of the differentially expressed genes detected in a set of flank skin samples covering all proanagen stages, up to a half are likely to be specifically associated with hair growth.

The 150 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) discovered represented 112 unique sequences. Forty-two of these were aligned by sequence homology to known genes, while the remainder are likely to represent novel genes. Differential expression through the follicle growth cycle or after the treatments was confirmed for 21 out of 23 genes whose mRNAs were detectable by Northern blot hybridisation. Overall, expression alteration for most of these ESTs occurred prior to morphological changes in the skin associated with hair follicle reactivation. All the ESTs whose expression sites were detected by in situ hybridisation were localised to hair follicles. Some were detected only in certain stages of the hair follicle cycle, others in all growth stages, but at different levels. Classification of the identified ESTs suggested that apoptosis as well as fatty acid synthesis and cholesterol metabolism were closely associated with hair growth initiation, while cell interaction and motility were also particular prominent processes in hair follicle regrowth.

Additional DNA sequence information was obtained for ferret hair acidic keratin 8 (fHa8) and ferret cyclin D-interacting myb-like protein 1 (fDMP1). Both of these genes were expressed only in cortical cells in the keratogenous zone from mid-proanagen. fHa8 was expressed only in one side of the cortex, a feature has not previously been reported for other type I intermediate hair keratins. The restricted expression of fDMP1 and its smaller size suggested that it was an alternatively spliced form of the human and mouse homologues with a specialised function in the regulation of cortical cell proliferation and differentiation. Further studies on the expression regulation and function of the genes represented by the ESTs identified in this study promise to considerably advance our understanding of hair follicle growth control.

year: 2001

title: 1999 Professorial Address: Nau te rourou, naku te rourou… Māori education: setting an agenda.

authors: Bishop, Russell

subjects: educational outcomes

abstract: Current educational policies and practices in Aotearoa/New Zealand were developed and continue to be developed within a framework of power imbalances, which effects Maori the greatest. An alternative model that seeks to address indigenous Māori aspirations and Treaty of Waitangi guarantees for self determination is presented here. This model suggests how a tertiary teacher education institution might create learning contexts wherein power-sharing images, principles and practices will facilitate successful participation by Māori students in mainstream classrooms. This model constitutes the classroom as a place where young people's sense-making processes (cultures) are incorporated and enhanced, where the existing knowledges of young people are seen as "acceptable" and "official" and where the teacher interacts with students in such a way that new knowledge is co-created. Such a classroom will generate totally different interaction and participation patterns and educational outcomes from a classroom where knowledge is seen as something that the teacher makes sense of and then passes on to students.

text: 1999 Professorial Address: Nau te rourou, naku te rourou… Māori education: setting an agenda. Current educational policies and practices in Aotearoa/New Zealand were developed and continue to be developed within a framework of power imbalances, which effects Maori the greatest. An alternative model that seeks to address indigenous Māori aspirations and Treaty of Waitangi guarantees for self determination is presented here. This model suggests how a tertiary teacher education institution might create learning contexts wherein power-sharing images, principles and practices will facilitate successful participation by Māori students in mainstream classrooms. This model constitutes the classroom as a place where young people's sense-making processes (cultures) are incorporated and enhanced, where the existing knowledges of young people are seen as "acceptable" and "official" and where the teacher interacts with students in such a way that new knowledge is co-created. Such a classroom will generate totally different interaction and participation patterns and educational outcomes from a classroom where knowledge is seen as something that the teacher makes sense of and then passes on to students.

year: 2000