Motivational Impact of Work Crews

Abstract

Unionized construction workers in a major midwestern city are surveyed to collect data on the workers' perceptions of their workcrews. Data are analyzed using factor analysis and five elements of work crew functioning are identified: general effectiveness, openness, cohesion, goal clarity, and goal difficulty. The relationships between these variables and the workers' motivation, reported performance, and job satisfaction are analyzed. The conclusion reached is that contractors must manage their workcrews in terms of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling. By doing this, worker performance and satisfaction can be increased.