Open AccessConceptualizing Person-environment Fit and the Meaning of Work for Tourist Guides in Malaysia During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s) -
Yen Phin Ng,
Oscar Dousin,
Balvinder Kaur Kler
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
international journal of human resource studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2162-3058
DOI - 10.5296/ijhrs.v12i1.19435
Subject(s) - meaning (existential) , psychology , social psychology , pandemic , work (physics) , job satisfaction , job performance , psychological resilience , construct (python library) , person–environment fit , covid-19 , applied psychology , computer science , medicine , mechanical engineering , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , engineering , psychotherapist , programming language
This paper aims to conceptualizes the influence of person-environment fit (P-E fit) towards the meaning of work (MoW) for tourist guides (TGs) in Malaysia during and post-COVID-19 pandemic. TGs are key frontline workers whose employment is affected by the pandemic. A multilevel construct of P-E fit is adopted (person-organizational fit, person-job fit, and person-group fit) conceptualized as a correlation towards the tripartite work orientation of the MoW (job, career and calling). Four propositions emerge. Junior TGs view their work as a job and/or career; senior TGs perceive their work as a calling. Secondly, person-organizational fit and person-group fit has no influence with ‘job’, while person-job fit could partially influence ‘job’ where demands-abilities has no influence on ‘job’ but need-supplies fit influences ‘job’. Next, person-organization fit and person-job fit correlate with guides’ ‘career’ but not with person-group fit. Finally, all three fits relate to ‘calling’. TGs with a ‘job’ relationship possess low meaning of work; ‘career’ has moderate meaning of work, and ‘calling’ experience high meaning of work. Practitioners benefit from knowledge of levels of correlations between constructs; useful for implementing resilience strategies for post crisis and beyond. A thorough understanding among TGs to remain engaged and motivated is useful for training courses.