Part 6

Sense of community in the work context. A study on members of a co-operative enterprise

Sense of community in the work context. A study on members of a co-operative enterprise

Bruna Zani, Elvira Cicognani
Department of Sciences of Education “G.M. Bertin” University of Bologna (Italy) 
bruna.zani@unibo.it, elvira.cicognani@unibo.it

Abstract
This study investigates the psychological relationship between the individual, the work organization and the community context. In particular, the influence of organizational (Organizational Sense of community, Organizational identification, Organizational efficacy, Perceived Organizational values) and community variables (Sense of community referred to the local community) on workers’ psychological well being was assessed, taking into account a particular work context: the co-operative enterprise.

A questionnaire was submitted to 805 workers of a large co-operative enterprise with different work status and tenure (67.7% partners and 32,3% employees).
Results confirmed that partners (vs employees) perceive the cooperative as more committed to its stated core values and acting consistently with them. Moreover, partners show a higher level of Organizational efficacy, Identification with the cooperative and Organizational Sense of community and a higher Sense of community referred to the local community. Workers with more than 10 years of tenure perceive the cooperative as more committed to its values and show a higher Identification with the cooperative and a higher Sense of community compared to younger workers.

Workers’ psychological well being decreases with length of service and is positively influenced by Sense of community referred to the local community; however, organizational variables positively contribute to well being only among partners.

Key words: Organizational sense of community, Organizational identification, Organizational values, Co-operative enterprise, Workers’ well being.

Author(s)

Bruna Zani, Elvira Cicognani

Bruna Zani, Elvira Cicognani
Department of Sciences of Education “G.M. Bertin” University of Bologna (Italy) 
bruna.zani@unibo.it, elvira.cicognani@unibo.it

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