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It’s not just action but also about reflection: Taking stock of agency research to develop a future research agenda

Author

Listed:
  • Giles Hirst

    (Research School of Management, ANU College of Business and Economics, Canberra, ACT, Australia)

  • Gillian Yeo
  • Nicole Celestine

    (UWA Business School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia)

  • Shen-Yang (Sonya) Lin
  • Alex Richardson

    (Research School of Management, ANU College of Business and Economics, Canberra, ACT, Australia)

Abstract

Agency is the human capability to exert influence over one’s actions and environment, such as through forethought, self-regulation and self-reflection. We focus on six prominent agency constructs, including goal orientation, regulatory focus, proactivity, fear of failure, core self-evaluations and psychological capital, and review what we have learned from each construct. By adopting an overarching multidisciplinary perspective, we identify key research agendas for the six prominent constructs: (1) incorporating self-reflection into research on agentic disposition; (2) how agency dispositions equip employees for workplaces of the futures, yet also how such behaviours may challenge societal and corporate mechanisms of control; and (3) well-being and health-related consequences of agency. In addition, we highlight the importance of understanding the interface between agency scholarship and developments in technology, medicine and sociology. JEL Classification: M10, M14

Suggested Citation

  • Giles Hirst & Gillian Yeo & Nicole Celestine & Shen-Yang (Sonya) Lin & Alex Richardson, 2020. "It’s not just action but also about reflection: Taking stock of agency research to develop a future research agenda," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 45(3), pages 376-401, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ausman:v:45:y:2020:i:3:p:376-401
    DOI: 10.1177/0312896220919468
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • M10 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - General
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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