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Excessive work regimes and functional stupidity

Alvesson, Mats LU and Einola, Katja LU (2018) In German Journal of Human Resource Management 32(3-4). p.283-296
Abstract

In order to understand why individuals accept and reproduce excessive time regimes, this paper addresses five key drivers: (1) intrinsic motivation, (2) extrinsic motivation, (3) organizational norms, (4) the principle of reciprocity, and (5) identity, including having the ‘true grit’ and belonging to the ‘elite’. It also points to how various elements in excessive work regimes – tendencies towards a closed occupational system, the combination of incentives and ego-boosting and limited time outside work – contribute to functional stupidity, making people disinclined to ask critical questions about work practices and norms, be self-reflective or imagine alternative forms of work organizations, careers or personal objectives.

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Functional stupidity, identity, motivation, professional services, work regimes, working hours
in
German Journal of Human Resource Management
volume
32
issue
3-4
pages
283 - 296
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:85052575457
ISSN
2397-0022
DOI
10.1177/2397002218791410
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a356d06a-1ea2-43e0-bb1a-00cfcbf82f3f
date added to LUP
2018-10-05 07:51:23
date last changed
2022-04-25 17:37:48
@article{a356d06a-1ea2-43e0-bb1a-00cfcbf82f3f,
  abstract     = {{<p>In order to understand why individuals accept and reproduce excessive time regimes, this paper addresses five key drivers: (1) intrinsic motivation, (2) extrinsic motivation, (3) organizational norms, (4) the principle of reciprocity, and (5) identity, including having the ‘true grit’ and belonging to the ‘elite’. It also points to how various elements in excessive work regimes – tendencies towards a closed occupational system, the combination of incentives and ego-boosting and limited time outside work – contribute to functional stupidity, making people disinclined to ask critical questions about work practices and norms, be self-reflective or imagine alternative forms of work organizations, careers or personal objectives.</p>}},
  author       = {{Alvesson, Mats and Einola, Katja}},
  issn         = {{2397-0022}},
  keywords     = {{Functional stupidity; identity; motivation; professional services; work regimes; working hours}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{3-4}},
  pages        = {{283--296}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{German Journal of Human Resource Management}},
  title        = {{Excessive work regimes and functional stupidity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2397002218791410}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/2397002218791410}},
  volume       = {{32}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}