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Work Redesign: Rhetoric vs Reality
Author(s) -
Cordery John L.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
asia pacific journal of human resources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.825
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1744-7941
pISSN - 1038-4111
DOI - 10.1177/103841119503300202
Subject(s) - rhetoric , work (physics) , sociology , psychology , philosophy , engineering , linguistics , mechanical engineering
This paper reviews the growing popularity of self‐managing teams as an approach to work design in contemporary organizations. The main characteristics of self‐managing teams are outlined and examples of workplace change involving self‐managing teams in several large Australian organizations are given. Evidence as to the effectiveness of self‐managing teams is reviewed, along with theoretical explanations for their impact on performance, and employee attitudes and behaviour. It is concluded that self‐managing teams are not necessarily required in all organizational contexts and that there are potential (though not insurmountable) difficulties arising from their use.