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Structuration - the production, reproduction, and transformation of social environments through rules and resources in relationships
Organizations create structures, which can be interpreted as an organization's rules and resources. These structures create social systems, in which, power structures guide the decision making.
Structuration Theory is highlighted in this study by showing the impact that of day-to-day interactions in organizations
The ways in which employees communicate their work/life concerns exemplifies their internalization of rules and resources necessary for specific requests
3 resources emerged as a result of the study
Resource 1: A societal or organizational value of family
Resource 2: An employee’s own competence
Resource 3: Knowledge of the organization
Hoffman, M. F., & Cowan, R. L. (2010). Be Careful What You Ask For: Structuration Theory and Work/Life Accommodation.Communication Studies, 61(2), 205-223. doi:10.1080/10510971003604026
6 rules surfaced as a result of the study
Rule 1: Before making a request, employees should weigh risks and rewards carefully
Rule 2: The easiest requests are family requests
Rule 3: Employees should make requests only if they know they will be granted
Rule 4: Employees should stress organizational interests
Rule 5: Work/life requests should be dealt with privately
Rule 6: It is appropriate for employees to find other ways to fulfill their work/life needs
96 employee online questionnaires
Asked to respond to three open-ended prompts
A) Describe what you asked for and who you asked in the situation B) Describe how you made this request and what reasons you gave; and C) Describe how the person to whom you made the request responded
“How do the nature and manner of requests made or avoided by individuals reflect their understanding of the rules and resources surrounding work/life accommodations in organizations and society” (Hoffman & Cowan, 2010).
Structuration theory is concerned with the ways that social structures combine with human interactions to either reproduce or challenge social institutions
Key concepts in examining the construction of work/life balance
in organizations
The nature of structures (“official” and learned rules)
The duality of structures (interactions reproduce or reinforce
structures ;transformation is possible)
Mary F. Hoffman & Renee L. Cowan