Publication Date
2019
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
Corey Miller (Committee Chair), Gary Burns (Committee Co-Chair), Nathan Bowling (Committee Member)
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
Star employees have significant influences on the successes or failures of organizations. Current research on stars has not addressed who a star is or how stars are different from other good employees. In this study I tested the efficacy of a proposed definition of star employees and verified the accuracy of other previously established characteristics and behaviors associated with stars. In addition, I qualitatively explored managers’ perceptions of star employees. The study consisted of two separate samples: managers identified on MTurk (n = 40) and high-level executives from various industries (n = 46). Participants provided a series of open responses and ratings of both a star employee and an above average non-star employee. Results show strong support for previous findings within the literature and offer additional information regarding the existence and importance of specific characteristics and behaviors which differentiate star employees from other high-performers. Overall, performance was found to be the most important differentiator of stars. Initiative, leadership, prosocial behaviors, and social skills were all found to be important star attributes.
Page Count
114
Department or Program
Department of Psychology
Year Degree Awarded
2019
Copyright
Copyright 2019, all rights reserved. My ETD will be available under the "Fair Use" terms of copyright law.
