Training officers on board of innovative training ships: Expected job demands and job resources in the context of changes in placement supervision

Change processes, like educational innovations, can cause increased workload and resistance to change. Implementing an innovative learning environment on board of training ships in Maritime Training requires supervisors to be coach and expert. This new role and work setting can cause higher workload. This study investigates supervisors' expectations on job demands and job resources in relation to expected satisfaction. Participants were 98 on-board training officers filling out questionnaires about expectations of working on innovative training ships. We distinguished between thirteen officers who got a first impression on board during a pilot and 85 officers who were only informed about it. Results showed positive expectations on work pleasure and satisfaction, but an expected decrease in autonomy and increase of job demands. Expected work pleasure and satisfaction was higher for those who took part in the pilot. Expected job demands and resources related to expected satisfaction, especially for non-pilot officers. It is conduded that employees' expectations of an innovation are likely to impact chance of success, as they indicate level of resistance for change. Adequate expectation management and realistic information beforehand limit resistance. Implications of the strictly regulated work environment on board of ships on the possibilities for job crafting are discussed.