Work and School at the Same Time? A Conflict Perspective of the Work–School Interface
Abstract
Master’s degrees represent resources that often help employees advance in organizations. Tuition reimbursement programs for graduate studies also represent a large training expense for many organizations. Despite this interest in graduate education, and the additional demands it places on the employee, the impact of simultaneous participation in graduate school on important work-related outcomes is an understudied phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to develop and test a graduate school and work dual-role conflict model. The mediation model is tested using two samples of students who are enrolled in MBA programs. Results suggest that involvement in school can lead to higher levels of school–work conflict, which in turn can lead to lower levels of supervisor-reported job performance. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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Biographies
Rebecca L. Wyland is an assistant professor of management at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. She received her PhD in Organizations and Strategic Management from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Her current research interests include work–family balance, work–school balance, and leadership.
Scott W. Lester is a professor of management and the director of the Center for Leadership at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. He received his PhD in Organizational Behavior from the University of South Carolina. His current research interests include dyadic trust, the value of human resource certification, work–life balance, and generational differences in the workplace.
Mark A. Mone is a professor of management in the Lubar School of Business at University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. His research interests include goal setting, individual differences, organizational decline, and turnaround and research methods.
Doan E. Winkel is an assistant professor of entrepreneurship in the College of Business at Illinois State University, and is Associate Director of Programs at the Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. His research interests focus on work-family issues in entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship education.
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Article first published online: April 18, 2013
Issue published: August 2013
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