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Research in Organizational Behavior 31 (2011) 277

Corrigendum

Corrigendum to On the meaning of work: A theoretical integration

and review [Res. Organ. Behav. 30 (2010) 91127]
Brent D. Rosso a, Kathryn H. Dekas b, Amy Wrzesniewski c,*
a

University of Michigan, 701 Tappan Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States
c
Yale University, 135 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
Available online 27 October 2011

The authors regret that the following footnote was omitted from Fig. 1, p. 114 of their published article.
The theoretical framework that we present to organize the extant literature on the meaning of work draws from
Bakan (1966), who proposed a tension between self and other, on the one hand, and agency and communion on the
other. Similar frameworks have been derived from action research on existential meaning. Lips-Wiersma and Morris
(2009) introduce a multidimensional, dual-axis model of meaningful work and life, where existential meaning lies in
equilibrium among self-other and being-doing. In their theorizing, Pratt and Ashforth (2003) also propose a 2  2
model of meaningfulness in work, highlighting the importance of belongingness, authenticity, and transcendence in
fostering meaningful work. These frameworks share important and encouraging similarities with the framework we
derived from our review, and were pioneering steps in bringing various sources of the meaning of work together into a
more unified view. Our model shares a focus on the tension between self and other described in one dimension of LipsWiersmas (2002; Lips-Wiersma & Morris, 2009) multidimensional model. The tension we describe in the dimension
of our model that is anchored by agency and communion also draws from Bakan (1966) and contrasts seeking
communion with the self and other entities with differentiating or individuating the self from said entities.
Alternatively, the second dimension of Lips-Wiersmas (2002; Lips-Wiersma & Morris, 2009) multidimensional
model emphasizes the tension between being, or pursuing personal growth, authenticity, and belongingness and
doing, or pursuing individual creation and impact on others. The four quadrants that result in our model,
emphasizing unification, individuation, contribution, and self-connection share some elements in common with the
empirical results of Lips-Wiersmas (2002; Lips-Wiersma & Morris, 2009) multidimensional model regarding
the focus of activity and thought in work.

DOI of original article: 10.1016/j.riob.2010.09.001.

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 203 432 5979.
E-mail address: amy.wrzesniewski@yale.edu (A. Wrzesniewski).
0191-3085/$ see front matter # 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.riob.2011.10.001