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The role of task meaning on output in groups: Experimental evidence

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  • Agnes Bäker
  • Mario Mechtel

Abstract

Previous research has shown a detrimental effect of low task meaning on individual work output. This paper analyzes whether peer settings are able to counteract this negative effect of low task meaning. First, our results confirm that a low level of task meaning decreases individual output when working alone. However, this effect vanishes completely when working in the presence of a peer. Our analysis implies that organizing work in peer settings might be particularly beneficial in work environments with a low level of task meaning.

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  • Agnes Bäker & Mario Mechtel, 2018. "The role of task meaning on output in groups: Experimental evidence," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(2), pages 131-141, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:mgtdec:v:39:y:2018:i:2:p:131-141
    DOI: 10.1002/mde.2875
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Agnes Bäker & Mario Mechtel, 2019. "The Impact Of Peer Presence On Cheating," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 57(2), pages 792-812, April.
    2. Cnossen, Femke & Nikolova, Milena, 2024. "Work Meaningfulness and Effort," IZA Discussion Papers 17182, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Gerhards, Leonie & Gravert, Christina, 2020. "Because of you I did not give up – Peer effects in perseverance," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    4. Nwafor, Onyi & Singh, Rahul & Collier, Cassie & DeLeon, Dereck & Osborne, Jim & DeYoung, Jon, 2021. "Effectiveness of nudges as a tool to promote adherence to guidelines in healthcare and their organizational implications: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    5. Kesternich, Iris & Schumacher, Heiner & Siflinger, Bettina & Schwarz, Stefan, 2021. "Money or meaning? Labor supply responses to work meaning of employed and unemployed individuals," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    6. Jeworrek, Sabrina & Mertins, Vanessa, 2019. "Mission, motivation, and the active decision to work for a social cause," IWH Discussion Papers 10/2019, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    7. Vanessa Mertins & Christian Walter, 2021. "In absence of money: a field experiment on volunteer work motivation," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 24(3), pages 952-984, September.
    8. Katarzyna Byrka & Katarzyna Cantarero & Dariusz Dolinski & Wijnand Van Tilburg, 2021. "Consequences of Sisyphean Efforts: Meaningless Effort Decreases Motivation to Engage in Subsequent Conservation Behaviors through Disappointment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-27, May.
    9. Nikolova, Milena & Cnossen, Femke, 2020. "What makes work meaningful and why economists should care about it," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).

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