Curt R Johansson

Eliciting and Analysing Employees' Expectations of a Merger

The merger of the head offices of two public service organizations in Sweden was used to examine differences in the meanings that employees attach to the organizations involved and their expectations of the new merged organization, nine months prior to the merger. A two-stage methodology was used, combining the repertory grid method with a survey questionnaire based on the elicited constructs. Predictions from a social constructivist perspective on culture and social identity theory were largely confirmed. The results showed that both groups expected one of them to be dominant after the merger. Members of this organization expected to change very little, while employees in the non-dominant group felt themselves to be threatened by the prospect of merger and this led them to emphasize their own distinctiveness. The findings suggest that the success of the integration process after a merger is critically dependent on how employees of merger partners perceive the culture of the organizations involved and the expectations they have of the new organization. The study has practical implications for how to manage the merger integration process.

Musculoskeletal disorders among female and male air traffic controllers performing identical and demanding computer work

Operators with identical, demanding computer work (90 female and 97 male air traffic controllers) were found to have high prevalences of disorders (assessed by questionnaire and physical examination) in neck, shoulders and upper back. In spite of the identical work, the women displayed higher prevalences than the men (e.g. neck diagnoses 21% vs. 4%). Disorders in elbows, wrists and hands were less common, with similar rates in both genders. Generally, the psychosocial work environment (assessed by questionnaire) was found to be good, but with large inter-individual variation. Women experienced lower decision latitude than men, particularly regarding influence and freedom at work, but perceived higher social support. Physically, the work was characterized by relatively low angular velocities of upper arms (measured by inclinometry) and wrists (right: <1°/s during 19% of time, measuring by goniometry), dynamic muscular activities and high time fractions of rest in the trapezius and forearm extensor muscles (measuring by electromyography). There were only minor differences between the genders.

Military observers' reactions and performance when facing danger

Some groups have to face threats and dangers professionally with maintained cognitive functioning, which implies a need to know both the extent to which maladaptive reactions occur and the factors that may affect it. This study examines self-reported reactions and performance when facing risks and dangers on peacekeeping observer missions. The sample consisted of 154 military observers. A self-made questionnaire, including the General Health Questionnaire and the Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale, was used. We found that feelings of invulnerability were common in relation to mission risks. In a specific danger incident, most participants subjectively performed well, although partial loss of cognitive functioning was reported in half of the cases and severely dysfunctional reactions in about one tenth. Cluster analysis showed that self-reported cognitive limitations in danger incidents were related to 2 factors: complicating situational factors, such as high levels of threat, complex decision demands, and minor control possibilities; and individual vulnerability factors, such as general worry and anger, low SOC, anxiety, and psychosomatic symptoms.

Effects of low intensity, continuous and intermittent noise on mental performance and writing pressure of children with different intelligence and personality characteristics

Mental performance (learning, reading, multiplication) and writing pressure of 66 ten-year-old school children was studied for 2 hours under three conditions: silence (25 dB; 0 noy), continuous (51dB; 2-25 noy) and intermittent (55-78 dB; 2-25 noy) noise. No statistically significant main effects of noise or interaction between noise and personality characteristics were found. However, children with high intelligence solved more items on a multiplication task in noise than in quiet conditions. The reverse was found for children with low intelligence, who were also more affected on the reading task. The results were discussed in terms of arousal theory.

Planning working environment and production by using paper drawings and computer animation

It is assumed that pictorial visualization can be used to facilitate communication between industrial professionals when planning working environments and production. This article analyses how managers, supervisors, machine operators, and occupational health and safety officials, accustomed to using both paper drawings and computer animation of both shop floor and workplace view, evaluate these four types of visualization in relation to a set of planning issues. Twenty-four subjects participated in a controlled two-day planning workshop. They designed a new production layout by means of computer graphics, and responded to a questionnaire. From the analysis it may be concluded that the four types of visualization are unique enough to be evaluated differently with regard to some of the planning issues. Hence, great care should be devoted to analysing what features a visualization of a production layout or a working environment aims at illustrating. Furthermore, it can be concluded that each of the four type...

Computer supported visualisation of quality systems developed by network teams

This paper reports a pilot study and three case studies to examine aimed at studying if a quality system, according to the ISO 9000 quality standard, can be visualised, exploring how the visualisation should be designed in order to support continuous improvements and evaluating the design process for development of prototypes. By discussing with the research team, three companies in southern Sweden set up design teams to establish principles for visualisations of their quality systems on their intranets. Together with one of the researchers, the design teams created and evaluated computer supported prototypes and exchanged ideas between the teams via the Internet. The results show that quality systems can be adequately visualised and that the companies preferred descriptions of the physical plant layout containing symbols that connect to further information by hyperlinks. A quality system based on computer supported visualisation will make the quality system more understandable and have better possibilities to engage personnel in the quality work; it will be faster, easier, and more interesting to use than systems with only paper documents. The use of design teams with access to each others prototypes via the Internet supported the design process by stimulating generation of ideas and solutions to visualise a quality system.

Reactions and performance of Swedish peacekeepers in life-threatening situations

This study maps reactions activated in peacekeeping personnel by life-threatening situations and explores how these reactions affect psychological functioning. In-depth interviews were carried out with 30 informants from the Swedish peacekeeping force serving in Bosnia between 1993 and 1995. All participants had experienced shooting incidents or other highly threatening events. Two models were formed. A descriptive model structures the content of the interviews according to the phase and type of situation from which they were mainly reported, as well as whether they were mainly reported by officers or privates. A theoretical model forms the basis for a discussion about the individual and situational factors that affect the specific reactions and how their interaction with role expectations affects performance. The informants were generally satisfied with their performance. Two factors associated with lower performance were either that the life-threatening situation implied loss of control or it demanded complex cognitive activity.

Computer-Aided Planning of Production, Working and Residential Environments

This paper discusses a computer-aided planning methodology and its applicability for planning of industrial production and working environments as well as for planning of residential and working environments for the differently abled. The methodology has been developed and evaluated in six case studies in mechanical industries and in six case studies related to adaptations for the differently abled. The results from the case studies indicate that computer-supported modelling and visualisation may serve as a common and efficient language facilitating communication about multifaceted environmental planning issues. The methodology is a cost-effective way of demonstrating layout ideas and testing dynamic activities like manufacturing and transportation. Corporate groups comprising people involved in, or affected by, development work seem to be a fruitful approach for cooperation, one which enhances learning and creativity. Such groups may be a proper forum for the dissemination of information, exchange of opinions, utilisation of both expert and lay experiences, and for public testing of current reality or future plans in such a way that mutual understanding between different professional categories is increased, hence promoting internal commitment. (Less)

A two-way approach of congruent behavior between leaders and staff in the employeeship concept: Test of model, questionnaires, and influence on climate

Purpose – The authors have developed the Leadership‐Employeeship‐Relationship Model and a questionnaire following their conceptualization of the employeeship concept. It is possible to separately study leadership, peer employee, and interactive leader‐follower behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the conceptualization and operationalization, as well as between the model and psychological climate.Design/methodology/approach – In total, four organizations operating at an airport participated. The quantitative approach involved data gathered from expected leadership and employee behaviors and psychological climate attitude questionnaires. The leadership and peer employee variables are separately based on the leadership and employeeship questionnaires, whereas the leader‐follower variable is based on the results of both questionnaires. All analyses were made on the variable level.Findings – The results show that expected leadership, peer employee, and congruent leader‐fo...

Cooperation in Planning of Production and Working Environments Supported by Computer Graphics

A methodology for studying change processes in working life combining computer-aided planning and cooperation in project groups is evaluated. The methodology is applied and studied in a planning workshop with representatives from manufacturing industries—managers, production engineers, supervisors as well as shop floor workers—and from health-and-safety agencies utilizing the methodology for planning of production, layout, and working environment. The results are presented and discussed with respect to cooperation in project groups, outline of proposals, topics of discussion, and pictures as planning tools.