Abstract
M.Comm. (Industrial Psychology)
Orientation: In theory, work-based identities have been perceived to predict employee
performance at work. The rationale behind this thinking is that individuals apply their
identities as they work. Little research is available on the exact nature of the relationship
between work-based identity and task performance.
Research purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between
work-based identity and task performance before and after the correction of the
negatively skewed task performance measure.
Motivation of the study: This study will shed light on how to statistically correct
negatively skewed task performance ratings. Currently, limited literature exists on how
to correct this skewness with the aim of understanding the work-based identity task
performance correlation.
Research design: The study utilised a secondary data analysis (SDA) approach within
the quantitative research paradigm. This study was performed on a cross-sectional
survey (n = 2,429) of data which was collected from middle management level, and
management levels that fell beneath this, in a large South African Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT) sector company (N = 23,134). Scales used in the
study were the Work-based Identity (WI-28) and Task Performance Scales.
Results: The results confirm a relationship between work-based identity and task
performance before and after the logarithmic transformation of the negatively skewed
task performance ratings. The results also indicate that the relationship between workbased
identity and task performance remains unchanged after the transformation.
Practical/Managerial Implications: Employee behaviours impact general
organisational outcomes. Managers should strive to design interventions that draw on
employee strengths, such as work-based identity and skills that would lead to improved
work experiences.
Contribution/Value-Add: The study described in this article builds on the work-based
identity literature by showing that this construct can be used to predict task
performance. The study also provides evidence of how to statistically correct a
negatively skewed task performance measure.