Interest as a Moderator in the Relationship Between Challenge/Skills Balance and Flow at Work: An Analysis at Within-Individual Level

Considering flow as a non-ergodic process (i.e. non-homogeneous across indi- viduals and non-stationary over time) that happens at the within-individual level, in this research we work with Bakker's model that propose flow as made up by three components: intrinsic motivation, enjoyment, and absorption. Taking into account that flow theory can be considered as an intrinsic motivation theory, and the recent proposals about the need to distinguish between pre-conditions of flow and the flow experience itself, we look at interest as a moderator between the challenge/skills balance and the experience of flow, rather than a component of the flow experience. A total of 3640 recordings were collected from a sample of 58 workers using an experience sampling method (several registers a day, during 21 working days). The data was analyzed using regression techniques in each participant (i.e. at within-individual level). Our work tries to respond to the following two research questions: Will interest play a moderating role in the relationship between challenge/skills balance and flow? Will a non-linear model (cusp catastrophe model) better explain the relationship among challenge/skills balance, interest, and flow? The results suggest that our hypotheses were correct: including interest as moderator better explains the relationship between challenge/skills balance and flow in comparison to a model without moderation (R 2 values change from 0.33 to 0.50). Additionally, carrying out the analysis following non-linear techniques explained more variance as well (R 2 = 0.67), and this increment was significant. These results support the idea that interest should be considered as a key precondition for the appearance of flow, and this relationship is non- linear. We could say that these findings are exemplary in the field and brings up questions for their application in further research

Approcher la flexibilité au concret: A quelles tensions paradoxales le recours à l'intérim donne-t-il lieu et comment l'entreprise et les individus y répondent-ils?

Face à une ère de flexibilisation des marchés, les entreprises recourent de plus en plus à des formes particulières d’emploi, et ce, pour faire face à l’urgence et l’incertitude. Pourtant, les entreprises dites « flexibles » sont confrontées à des dilemmes, des paradoxes et des contradictions. Alors que le phénomène de flexibilité donne lieu à de nombreux leviers de gestion des ressources humaines, l’intérim fait figure d’instrument par excellence. Or, à l’instar de la flexibilité, l’intérim s’inscrit dans une dynamique complexe et paradoxale. Par conséquent, le recours à l’intérim, dans ce contexte, soulève des enjeux importants au sein de l’entreprise utilisatrice, et ce, à différents niveaux. Ce mémoire propose ainsi d’observer, au concret, les enjeux du phénomène de flexibilité au travers de l’étude du cas du recours à l’intérim. En mobilisant la théorie des paradoxes comme cadre d’analyse, ce sont les tensions paradoxales que l’intérim soulève, ainsi que les réponses apportées, qui ont été observées. Cette étude de cas s’est déroulée au sein d’une entreprise du secteur agro-alimentaire. Une approche qualitative a été utilisée et des membres de la direction, des intérimaires et des représentants du personnel ont ainsi été interrogés, permettant une analyse par niveau ; organisationnel, collectif et individuel. Des tensions émanant du recours à l’intérim ainsi que des tentatives de réponses à ces tensions ont été observées dans cette étude, et ce, à ces différents niveaux. Alors qu’au niveau organisationnel, les injonctions paradoxales semblent être acceptées et discutées, témoignant de la présence d’un espace public de délibération, au niveau individuel et, dans une moindre mesure, collectif, cet espace semble ne pas exister. Les individus introjecteraient par conséquent ces tensions, les laissant seuls responsables de la résolution de celles-ci et entrainant des conséquences néfastes sur leur psyché et l’organisation. Plus globalement, cette étude questionne l’encadrement de la flexibilité dans notre société, au sein de laquelle les intérimaires peinent à trouver leur place, et espère ainsi ouvrir de nouvelles pistes de réflexion pour une flexibilité plus éthique, prenant en considération l’individu et son expérience.Master [120] en sciences du travail (horaire décalé), Université catholique de Louvain, 201

Interest as a Moderator in the Relationship Between Challenge/Skills Balance and Flow at Work: An Analysis at Within-Individual Level

Considering flow as a non-ergodic process (i.e. non-homogeneous across indi- viduals and non-stationary over time) that happens at the within-individual level, in this research we work with Bakker's model that propose flow as made up by three components: intrinsic motivation, enjoyment, and absorption. Taking into account that flow theory can be considered as an intrinsic motivation theory, and the recent proposals about the need to distinguish between pre-conditions of flow and the flow experience itself, we look at interest as a moderator between the challenge/skills balance and the experience of flow, rather than a component of the flow experience. A total of 3640 recordings were collected from a sample of 58 workers using an experience sampling method (several registers a day, during 21 working days). The data was analyzed using regression techniques in each participant (i.e. at within-individual level). Our work tries to respond to the following two research questions: Will interest play a moderating role in the relationship between challenge/skills balance and flow? Will a non-linear model (cusp catastrophe model) better explain the relationship among challenge/skills balance, interest, and flow? The results suggest that our hypotheses were correct: including interest as moderator better explains the relationship between challenge/skills balance and flow in comparison to a model without moderation (R 2 values change from 0.33 to 0.50). Additionally, carrying out the analysis following non-linear techniques explained more variance as well (R 2 = 0.67), and this increment was significant. These results support the idea that interest should be considered as a key precondition for the appearance of flow, and this relationship is non- linear. We could say that these findings are exemplary in the field and brings up questions for their application in further research

The Asymmetric Profile of the Acetabulum

Despite the curvaceous profile of the acetabulum, orthopaedic surgeons have continued to implant hemispheric cups since the introduction of total hip arthroplasty. The geometric discrepancies between the natural acetabulum and implant can result in painful iliopsoas impingement attributable to prosthetic overlap at the anterior acetabular ridge over which the iliopsoas tendon extends to leave the pelvis. We expanded on previous in vitro observations of acetabular morphology using a large in vivo sample and quantified the dimensions of the psoas valley. We studied computed tomographic scans of 200 healthy hips from 50 men and 50 women. The acetabular ridges were digitized on three-dimensional bone reconstructions and their coordinates were manipulated in spreadsheets to deduce acetabular diameter, anteversion, and inclination and to plot the rim profile. Our results confirm the acetabular rim is an asymmetric succession of three peaks and three troughs. The psoas valley has the following shape distribution: 79% curved, 11% angular, 10% irregular, and 0% straight. The mean depth of the psoas valley is 5 mm and the latitude of its trough is on average 6 mm below the acetabular equator. The use of side-specific cups that replicate the curvaceous acetabular profile could prevent prosthetic overlap and reduce the incidence of iliopsoas impingement