Work has been seen not only as a means of earning income, but as an activity that promotes personal achievement, social status and the possibility of establishing and maintaining interpersonal contacts, among other factors. This study aimed at researching the factors that influence and lend meaning to work, such as work centrality, social norms and the objectives and results that are valued. Regarding work centrality, the study investigated the degree of importance of work within the context of the different areas of people's lives, such as family, leisure, religion and life in the community. Concerning social norms, the study discussed what society should provide the individual with as well as what the individual could do for society. On objectives and results that are valued, what was researched was what one aspires through working. Based on the reviewed literature, an initial model was developed, which proved to be unsatisfactory according to statistical criteria. This model was therefore replaced by another one that yielded statistical significance and good data adherence. The model chosen presented the best goodness-of-fit in the structural equation modeling, using the partial least square method. The study found that the meaning of work reflects on the centrality of work, on valued objectives and results and finally, on social norms, in this order.
Gostaria de deixar aqui registrado o meu agradecimento a todos que, com ajuda e incentivo, tornaram possível iniciar, elaborar e concluir esse trabalho, em especial: À minha orientadora, Profa. Maria Aparecida Gouvêa pela sua paciência, dedicação e orientação determinada para a finalização deste trabalho. Aos demais Mestres da FEA, especialmente ao Prof. Dr. Ronaldo Zwicker, pelos conhecimentos transmitidos e apoio nas diversas fases desse trabalho. Ao Prof. Diógenes de Souza Bido pelas inestimáveis ajudas nas partes de Modelagem de Equações Estruturais e do software PLS. Aos colegas Fanny Niño, Sandra Nakagawa e Hamilton Coimbra pelas valiosas contribuições a este trabalho. Aos colegas da Sefaz, em especial à Dalvanira Paes Leme e ao Carlos Dias Corrêa, pelo apoio para viabilizar esse trabalho. Ao Seiti Yamashiro pela contribuição na montagem do questionário "on line". Aos funcionários das secretarias da pós-graduação, especialmente à Valéria e à Andréia, pela paciência e auxílio em diversas ocasiões. Aos funcionários da biblioteca da FEA, sempre gentis e atenciosas, especialmente à Giseli Adornato pela colaboração e disponibilidade. À minha esposa Tereza e aos meus filhos Larissa e Rodrigo, pela compreensão nos diversos momentos em que tive que abdicar da convivência familiar para possibilitar a conclusão desse trabalho.
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