Social and Economic Motivation at Work - Hardcover

Scheuer, Steen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 8716134982 ISBN 13: 9788716134981

Publisher: Copenhagen Business School Press, 2000

Synopsis

What is the driving force behind the commitment to work? Economic or social rewards? Theories abound, usually focusing mainly on only one of these two types of reward.

This book breaks new ground in two ways. It gives a fresh analysis of the dynamics of motivation. And it challenges earlier interpretations of the empirical classics of motivation. Rational choice motivations interact with social norms of the workplace in the shape of peer pressure, restriction of output etc. The interrelation between these two driving forces is not stable and cannot be defined once and for all. While in the literature, the two types of motives are mostly seen as being divergent, the author here shows that they may be and are in fact often convergent.

The reappraisal of three classics of industrial sociology makes it evident that too many scholars have copied what their colleagues have misunderstood. Dr. Scheuer points out myths and interpretations that actually cannot be based on the classics' findings.

The author has several audiences in mind: researchers, teachers and students in the fields of sociology and management. His book will also create a new interest in these issues in many companies.

About this title

Review:

"...an interesting and original way of criticizing and reinterpreting classic studies of work in sociology." Acta Sociologica 2001

About the Author:

Steen Scheuer is Associate Professor, MA, Ph.D. & Dr. Merc., Department of Organization and Industrial Sociology, Copenhagen Business School.

About this edition

• Publisher: Copenhagen Business School Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 8716134982
• ISBN 13: 9788716134981
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 222