Bibliography 2: #BIB36609

Key	BIB36609
Reference type	Thesis
Title	The Influence of the Bahá'í Principles on Employment Relations
Author	Momtazian, Legha
Year	2018
Date	August 2018
Place published	Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
Abstract	This research explores how the principles of the Bahá’í Faith influence employment relations, and whether it is possible to maintain these principles in practice. The Bahá’í Faith is a contemporary world religion originating in 1863 in Iran. This research focuses on power relations, dealing with conflict, and employee involvement (Fox, 1966). The theoretical lenses used for this research are aspects of power (Lukes, 2005), participation (Vroom, 2003), justice and fairness (Rawls, 1971), and Equity theory (Adams, 1963). In order to explore the research question, case-study methodology (Yin , 2003; Robson, 2011) was employed, exploring three organisations based in the USA and UK, that aimed to apply Bahá’í principles; with the use of multiple methods (interviews, focus group discussions and archival study). This was coupled with a scriptural study to explore the underpinnings of the perceptions and behaviours related to Bahá’í principles. The outcomes relate the concept of 'work in the spirit of service' with justice, moderation, responsibility, and participation; and the three cases displayed parallels with various aspects of this approach. However, while all three cases emphasised reduced power relations and increased employee involvement, they varied in the extent and depth of practice. This is explained by the approach of the Bahá’í Faith to individual understanding and practice of the religion and absence of a clerical role. This study makes several new contributions including the proposing a 'consultative/collaborative' approach to employment relations, with distributed power, supporting the interest of the employees, and decision-making with a consultative approach; a novel methodology conjoining the case-study method with scriptural study in exploring the influence of religious beliefs on employment relations; and the conceptualisation of 'work in the spirit of service' as a justice-centric approach, which could have potential policy implications as well as highlighting areas for future research.
Notes	Includes bibliographical references.
Research notes	Document is not to be copied or shared.
Language	English
Keywords	WORK; EMPLOYMENT; RELATIONS; CONSULTATION; DECISION-MAKING; JUSTICE; LABOR; MANAGEMENT
Number of pages	468
Thesis type	Doctorate
Academic department	Faculty of Social Sciences, Management School
University	University of Sheffield
Degree	Ph.D.
Advisor	Heyes, Jason, Johnson, Phil and Newsome, Kirsty
Accession number	ocn1103975856
File attachments	internal-pdf://2816157105/Momtazian (2018) - Influence_Bahai_Principles_.pdf

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