Taking the position that member satisfaction is an important outcome of organizational activity, this paper reports a field study of the relationships between a group structural variable (organicity), higher-order need satisfaction, and individual differences in personality traits. Satisfaction is positively associated with organicity. The responses of individuals to group structures higher or lower in organicity are mediated by trait type and trait strength. Organic group structure is a potential "motivator" of people with strong assertive needs.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BURNS, T. & STALKER, G. M.The management of innovation. London: Tavistock, 1961.
2.
EMERY, F. W. & TRIST, E. L.Socio-technical systems. In C. W. Churchman and M. Verhulst (Eds.), Management science models and techniques (Vol. 2). London: Pergamon, 1960.
3.
HACKMAN, J. R. & LAWLER, E. E.Employee reactions to job characteristics. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1975, 5S, 259-286.
4.
HACKMAN, J. R. & OLDHAM, G.Development of the job diagnostic survey, Journal of Applied Psychology, 1975, 60, 159-170.
5.
HERZBERG, F.Work and the nature of man. Cleveland: World, 1966.
6.
KOHN, M. L.Occupational structure and alienation. American Journal of Sociology, 1976, 82(1), 111-130.
7.
LAWRENCE, P. R. & LORSCH, J. W.Differentiation and integration in complex organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly1967, 12, 1-47.
8.
McGREGOR, D.The human side of enterprise. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1960.
9.
MEADOWS, I. S. G.Organic structure and innovation in small work groups. Human Relations, 1980, 33(6), 369-382.
10.
MURRAY, H. A.Explorations in personality. New York: Oxford University Press, 1938.
11.
PORTER, L. W.Perceived deficiencies in need fulfilment as a function of job level. Journal of Applied Psychology1962, 46, 376-384.
12.
TOURAINE, A.An historical theory in the evolution of industrial skills. In C. R. Walker (Ed.) Modern technology & civilization. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1962.
13.
TRIST, E. L. & BAMFORTH, K. W.Some social and psychological consequences of the long-wall method of coal-getting. Human Relations1951, 4, 3-38.
14.
TURNER, A. N. & LAWRENCE, P. R.Industrial jobs and the worker: an investigation of response to task attributes. Boston: Harvard, 1965.
15.
VROOM, V.Some personality determinants of the effects of participation. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1960.