WORK PRESSURE AS A DETERMINANT OF WORK GROUP-BEHAVIOR

This study examines the relationship between newly emphasized producti on pressures and the internal dynamics of ongoing work groups. The foc us is on cohesive group behavior and the role that supervisory managem ent may play with respect to that behavior within a group-oriented hig h-pressure work environment. The data for this study were drawn from a major manufacturing company and collected at two different times; 1 y ear after a company imposed work pressure system began and 1 year afte r that. The results indicate that work pressures tend to disrupt work- group cohesive behavior per se but that the effect is not especially r obust. Additional findings indicate that supervisory behavior can have a substantial effect on cohesive behavior and how members of work gro ups respond to pressures in terms of relevant internal dynamics. Espec ially relevant is the apparent effect of the supervision under especia lly high work pressure conditions.