Chapter 1 Flashcards
Definition of work
A set of coordinated and goal-directed activities that are conducted in exchange for something else (usually monetary rewards)
Three key elements in the definition of work
- Goal-directed activities
- Coordinated activities
- Exchange for something else
Definition of Sustainable performance
Maximizing work performance as well as worker health and well-being
Definition of work psychology
Focuses on the way workers’ behaviours, motivations, thoughts, emotions, health and well-being relate to each other, and ways to influence these concepts
Who form the world’s workforce?
All people aged 15 year and older who supply labour for the production of goods and services during a specified period (both employed and unemployed)
What are the different labour sectors?
- Agriculture
- Industry
- Services
What causes the narrow scope of contemporary work psychology?
The psychological research is mainly conducted in western-oriented economies. There is little research on the lower segment of the labour market and on ethnic/racial minorities
Explain the Relative Deprivation Model by Jahoda
This model shows that besides from providing an income, being employed gives five types of social benefits: time structure, social contact, sharing a common purpose, social identity or status, and regular activity. This shows why employed people are happier than unemployed people.
Explain the concept of systematic thinking
When looking at the Greeks and Romans, we can see that they already used a way of systematic thinking about work by using detailed guidelines and rules via which work had to be performed.
Explain the concept of occupational medicine (1500)
Researchers started to pay attention to the health of workers. E.g., Agricola (diseases by mine workers) and Ramazzini (diseases in 52 occupations) wrote books about diseases at work
During the industrial revolution (1850-1930) an important issue arose: how can workers be motivated to work hard and how can they be made more productive. Why did this issue arise?
The economic system was changed into that of industrial capitalism. There were more fields to work in, however working conditions were harsh and the pay was low. Moreover, tasks in the factories were boring, repetitive, and simple.
Explain the concept of scientific management (Taylorism)
Taylor believed works were lazy and stupid. He sought to maximize industrial efficiency by addressing the stupidity issue by simplifying tasks, examining the best way to conduct these tasks, training workers in ‘the one best way’, separating the planning of tasks from their execution, and selecting workers for particular tasks. He tried to solve the laziness issue by introducing high levels of control and supervision + pay-for-performance systems.
Explain the Human relations movement
Fitting the job to the worker. Arose after Taylorism when employers realized that redesigning jobs in line with the principles of scientific management affected worker morale negatively etc.
Describe the changing nature of work (mid 70’s)
Since the mid 70’s there has been an increase in the service sector. These jobs are associated with a high degree of emotional labour. Furthermore, there are more knowledge workers. These jobs are associated with a high degree of cognitive load.
What characterizes flexible work design (new way of working)?
- Flexibility in the timing of work
- Flexibility in the place of work
- Facilitation of new media technologies
