The effects of reward structure and division of labor in a small group: an experimental analysis

Abstract

Since the work of Durkheim (1933), the concept of division of labor has been much used but little analyzed in sociology (Kemper, 1972). Presumably, if a group is given a task to perform and motivated or reinforced for performing that task, some forms of division of labor will be more efficient than others. One might posit that the reward structure would influence how efficient the group actually is, and if they are given a choice, the division of labor with which they choose to tackle a task. The division of labor, in turn, is predicted to affect the status structure of the group, member satisfaction, actual efficiency, and reward distribution. This, in a nutshell, is the theoretical discussion which will follow in the coming pages.