To read this content please select one of the options below:

(excl. tax) 30 days to view and download

Barnyard democracy in the workplace

Céleste M. Brotheridge, Linda Keup

Team Performance Management

ISSN: 1352-7592

Article publication date: 1 April 2005

1849

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to illustrate the interesting parallels that exist between the social behavior of farm animals and work‐teams as a means of offering a novel point of view from which to understand teams.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical literature on the social behavior of farm animals is used as a starting‐point to identify the key factors that generate instability in social relationships and, as a result, demonstrate the existence of a dominance hierarchy. These factors are then analyzed in the context of the equivalent workplace literature in the areas of teamwork, bullying, and democracy.

Findings

There may be more of a connection between democracy in a barn and in a workplace than most people think. Both farm animals and humans have a tendency to form fairly stable social structures characterized by a dominance hierarchy in which there is: an established pecking order, differential access to resources; hazing of new members; penalties for non‐conformance; and a lack of personal space.

Practical implications

These factors contribute to instability in social relationships in the workplace and serve as potential explanations for the extent of aggression and incivility seen in today's organizations. Team leaders should pay attention to the markers of a dominance hierarchy and attempt to involve employees in democratic, participative work processes.

Originality/value

Team leaders will find this paper an unusual but effective way of considering how their teams are functioning.

Keywords

Citation

Brotheridge, C.M. and Keup, L. (2005), "Barnyard democracy in the workplace", Team Performance Management, Vol. 11 No. 3/4, pp. 125-132. https://doi.org/10.1108/13527590510606325

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles