Handbook of organizational measurement

TLDR

The handbook addresses the need to standardize measurements and labels for concepts commonly used in work organization studies. Its purpose is to serve as a reference handbook and research tool that improves measurement in work organization studies and aids teaching introductory courses. The handbook focuses on work organizations, defines measurement and distinguishes nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio levels, selects 38 key concepts, and evaluates each measure for quality, diversity, simplicity, availability, validity, and reliability. It concludes with a review of organizational measurement over the past 30 years and recommends directions for future research.

Abstract

Addresses the standardization of the measurements and the labels for concepts commonly used in the study of work organizations. As a reference handbook and research tool, seeks to improve measurement in the study of work organizations and to facilitate the teaching of introductory courses in this subject. Focuses solely on work organizations, that is, social systems in which members work for money. Defines measurement and distinguishes four levels: nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio. Selects specific measures on the basis of quality, diversity, simplicity and availability and evaluates each measure for its validity and reliability. Employs a set of 38 concepts ‐ ranging from “absenteeism” to “turnover” as the handbook’s frame of reference. Concludes by reviewing organizational measurement over the past 30 years and recommending future measurement reseach.