Title: Why job autonomy matters for young companies' performance: company maturity as a moderator between job autonomy and company performance

Authors: Paul T.Y. Preenen; Peter R.A. Oeij; Steven Dhondt; Karolus O. Kraan; Emma Jansen

Addresses: TNO, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, Schipholweg 77-89, P.O. Box 3005, 2301 DA Leiden, The Netherlands ' TNO, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research P.O. Box 3005, 2301 DA Leiden, The Netherlands ' TNO, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, P.O. Box 3005, 2301 DA Leiden, The Netherlands; Catholic University of Leuven, Oude Markt 13, P.O. Box 5005, 3000 Leuven, Belgium ' TNO, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, P.O. Box 3005, 2301 DA Leiden, The Netherlands ' TNO, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, P.O. Box 3005, 2301 DA Leiden, The Netherlands

Abstract: Although the positive impact of job autonomy has been widely shown for individual-level employee outcomes, research on job autonomy and company-level outcomes has been surprisingly scarce. Therefore, among 3,311 companies in the Netherlands, we investigate the relationship between employees' job autonomy and company performance growth (revenue, profit). Moreover, we investigate the moderating effect of company maturity (young vs. older companies) in this relationship. Results indicate that job autonomy is positively related to growth of company revenue and this relationship is stronger for young companies. Job autonomy was positively related to company profit but only for young companies. These results suggest that it is important for young companies especially, to provide their employees with job autonomy and its supporting practices. Implications for theory and practice will be discussed.

Keywords: job autonomy; work autonomy; decision latitude; active jobs; company performance growth; company revenue; company profit; company maturity; company age; workplace innovation; firm performance; The Netherlands; young firms.

DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2016.073425

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2016 Vol.12 No.1, pp.74 - 100

Received: 04 Sep 2014
Accepted: 12 Jun 2015
Published online: 02 Dec 2015 *

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