Through the book Rivethead, Ben Hamper (1986) depicts an evident picture of a working life from the perspective of an employee in General Motors (GM), which had been the most dominant organization in Flint, Michigan, by that time. This essay analyzes the book from the perspective of organizational psychology using Morgan's (2006) metaphor of organization as a machine.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- GM as a Machine
- Division of Labor and Capital Investment
- The Iron Cage of Capitalism
- Classical Management Theory in GM
- Unity of Command and Scalar Chain
- Centralization of Authority
- Scientific Management in GM
- Five Principles of Scientific Management
- Human Resources Practices
- Recruitment, Selection, and Placement
- Training and Performance Appraisal
- Working Climate and Organizational Culture
- Monotonous Job Design
- Lack of Leadership Skills
- Poor Conflict Resolution Style
- Psychological Contract and Organizational Commitment
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This book report explores the working life of an employee at General Motors (GM) in Flint, Michigan, as depicted in Ben Hamper's book, Rivethead. It analyzes how GM's management practices, influenced by classical and scientific management theories, shaped the working environment and organizational culture, impacting employee well-being and overall company performance.
- The impact of classical and scientific management theories on GM's organizational structure and practices.
- The consequences of repetitive and monotonous work on employee morale and well-being.
- The limitations of GM's management practices in fostering employee initiative, collaboration, and motivation.
- The role of leadership in shaping a positive and productive workplace culture.
- The importance of a strong psychological contract and organizational commitment for employee retention and satisfaction.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The book opens with a young Hamper witnessing his father's monotonous work at the GM factory, providing a glimpse into the factory's environment and the routine tasks performed by employees.
- The chapter explores how GM's operational activities were designed like a machine, with a focus on efficiency and uninterrupted production. The chapter discusses the principles of division of labor and capital investment, emphasizing their impact on the nature of work at GM.
- This chapter examines how GM's management practices reflected classical management theory, with a focus on hierarchy, centralized authority, and a lack of employee involvement in decision-making. The chapter also points out the negative consequences of this approach, such as limited opportunities for employee initiative and development.
- This chapter delves into the implementation of scientific management principles at GM, highlighting their influence on recruitment, selection, training, and performance appraisal processes. The chapter argues that GM's HR practices were not effectively implemented, leading to inconsistencies and inefficiencies.
- This chapter focuses on how GM's management practices contributed to a negative working climate and organizational culture. It analyzes the impact of monotonous jobs, lack of leadership skills, poor conflict resolution, and a weak psychological contract on employee morale and overall performance.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key themes and concepts explored in this report include classical management theory, scientific management, organizational culture, employee morale, job satisfaction, leadership, conflict resolution, psychological contract, organizational commitment, and the impact of industrial work on individual well-being.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dea Febriani (Autor:in), 2017, Book Report and Analysis about "Rivethead" by Ben Hamper, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/385530
