Articulated dissent and immediacy: a cross-national analysis of the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns
International Journal of Conflict Management
ISSN: 1044-4068
Article publication date: 20 September 2021
Issue publication date: 15 March 2022
Abstract
Purpose
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study aims to explore how working remotely might impact the superior–subordinate relationship. Specifically, this study examines how immediacy explains articulated dissent, considers how an individual’s attitudes toward online communication predicts immediacy and articulated dissent and compares these relationships in England, Australia and the USA.
Design/methodology/approach
Three nations were examined: Australia, England and the USA (n = 1,776). Surveys included demographic questions and the following measures: organizational dissent scale, perceived immediacy measure, computer-mediated immediate behaviors measure and measure of online communication attitude.
Findings
The results reveal supervisors’ computer-mediated immediate behaviors and perceived immediacy both positively predict dissent. Some aspects of online communication attitudes positively predict computer-mediated immediate behaviors and perceived immediacy. In addition, attitudes toward online communication positively predict dissent. National culture influences some of these relationships; in each case the effects were substantively larger for the USA when compared to the other nations.
Originality/value
This study is the first to cross-culturally analyze dissent and immediacy. In addition, this study considers the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic influences the superior–subordinate relationship.
Keywords
Citation
Croucher, S.M., Kelly, S., Hui, C., Rocker, K.J., Cullinane, J., Homsey, D., Ding, G.G., Nguyen, T., Anderson, K.J., Green, M., Ashwell, D., Wright, M. and Palakshappa, N. (2022), "Articulated dissent and immediacy: a cross-national analysis of the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns", International Journal of Conflict Management, Vol. 33 No. 2, pp. 181-202. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCMA-04-2021-0062
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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