International Sociology and International Sociology Reviews

Work motivation
‘Work motivation’ is our Topic of the Month for May 2021. On this topic, enjoy Free Access all month to this article by Ali B Mahmoud (University of Wales Trinity Saint David, UK), William D Reisel (St. John’s University, USA), Nicholas Grigoriou (Monash University, Australia), Leonora Fuxman (St. John’s University, USA) and Iris Mohr (St. John’s University, USA) published in International Sociology, The reincarnation of work motivation: Millennials vs older generations. Read on to know more about the authors’ trajectory and work:

Ali B Mahmoud

William D Reisel

Nicholas Grigoriou

Leonora Fuxman

Iris Mohr

Why are you working on this topic? Could you share an experience, a fact or a person who made you get engaged on that research?

A.B. Mahmoud: Motivation is the inner force behind our behaviours and actions. And that applies to all aspects and contexts of daily life, including businesses. It is like a ‘good in, good out’ process where individuals behave as a response to their needs. With a business environment shaped by generationally diverse workforces and customers and challenged by numerous disruptions and ‘new normals,’ we commenced a research project to address generational differences in both the workplace and marketplace.

W.D. Reisel: We are really curious about the types of motivation that connect and engage workforces. Much anecdotal evidence suggests a difference in generations yet a theory-driven approach to test this empirically is lacking.

N. Grigoriou: I was attracted to the topic through observations I made in my own workplace. I noted subtle distinctions between workplace behaviours among different age groups and staff who were at different stages of their career. I was fascinated by what might influence those behavioural differences, which I later discovered were motivations, and how those motivations may influence how I work with different generations of work colleagues.

L. Fuxman: This paper is part of the larger body of research that my colleagues and I are engaged in. We are fuelled by the desire to understand work motivation, particularly as it manifests through different generational cohorts, especially during unprecedented times our world is challenged with at this time due to global pandemic. We are fascinated by all facets of job motivation as it impacts so many job-related outcomes, ranging from customer experiences to organizational citizenship behaviours.

I. Mohr: It always fascinated me on what motivates individuals at different stages of their life.

Do you have any video, recorded conference, or online material that you would like us to share with others?

A.B. Mahmoud: Yes, we do.

Video abstract for the current article: https://vimeo.com/544007499

Other relevant publications:

Mahmoud, A. B., Fuxman, L., Mohr, I., Reisel, W. D. and Grigoriou, N. (2020). “We aren’t your reincarnation!” Workplace motivation across X, Y and Z generations. International Journal of Manpower, 42(1), 193-209. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-09-2019-0448
Mahmoud, A. B., Grigoriou, N., Fuxman, L., Reisel, W. D., Hack-Polay, D. and Mohr, I. (2020). A generational study of employees’ customer orientation: a motivational viewpoint in pandemic time. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254x.2020.1844785
Mahmoud, A. B., Reisel, W. D., Fuxman, L. and Mohr, I. (2021). A motivational standpoint of job insecurity effects on organizational citizenship behaviors: A generational study. Scandinavian journal of psychology, 62(2), 267-275. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12689

What would you emphasize about your academic trajectory? Can you highlight which have been your academic positions, universities, awards, departments and research centers?

A.B. Mahmoud: I am a dual PhD holder and work as a visiting professor at St. John’s University (USA) and part-time lecturer at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UK). I earned a PhD in Marketing (Digital Marketing Communications) and received another PhD in Human Resource Management (Work Psychology). I undertook my postdoctoral research training researching Digital Marketing Communications. I have an MRes in Marketing, preceded by an MSc in Financial Sciences and a bachelor’s degree in Economics/Business Administration. I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Furthermore, I am a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and Principal Practitioner by the Association for Business Psychology. I have edited books, authored book chapters, and published widely in international journals and leading conferences.

N. Grigoriou: I have a blend of both industrial and academic experience. In academia, I have held senior administrative roles for Monash College in China, also teaching and academic research roles for Monash University in both Malaysia and Australia. My primary academic focus is in the field of marketing.

L. Fuxman: I have obtained my PhD in Operations management from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Right from the start of my academic carreer, I joined the Management Department at St. John’s University in New York, where I was able to ascend through the ranks from Assistant Professor to a full professor position through a dedication to research as well as teaching. I was voted a Teacher of the Year by the student body, one of my proudest achievements in teaching. While my research interests and agendas have undergone quite a few transformations over the course of the last 25 years, I have always remained committed to pursuing rigorous research on highly relevant and timely topics.

I. Mohr: I am Chair of Marketing, and earned a PhD in Business Administration in Marketing/Strategy from City University of New York. I also hold an MBA from City University of New York, a Master’s in Communications from Hebrew University in Israel, a professional degree in Screenwriting from University of California in Los Angeles, and a New York Film Academy certificate in Documentary Filmmaking. My articles appeared in publications such as: Journal of Internet Commerce, Harvard Press, Interfaces, Human Resource Management, Quality Management Journal, Industrial Marketing Management, Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, European Journal of Marketing, Business Horizon, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Society, International Journal of Manpower, International Sociology, Marketing Management as well as in other professional publications. Currently, I am pursuing research and writing articles that relate to fashion and sustainability. I also provided interviews with various media outlets relating to my expertise in retailing, fashion, and sustainability. I am a member of the following organizations: Association of Consumer Research, American Marketing Association, and Fashion Group International.

For more information about the authors’ work and follow them on social media:

A.B. Mahmoud:
ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ali-Mahmoud-5
Publons profile: https://publons.com/researcher/685404/ali-b-mahmoud
Kudos profile: https://www.growkudos.com/profile/ali_mahmoud
Orcid ID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3790-1107
Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=fIhUN3cAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrAliBMahmoud @DrAliBMahmoud
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProfABM/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralibm/

N. Grigoriou:
n Twitter @ngrigoriou (tweets on marketing matters)

L. Fuxman:
ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Leonora-Fuxman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leonora.fuxman
University Twitter account: @StJohnsU

I. Mohr:
On Twitter @IrisMohrPHD