Employees Are Most Likely to Cut Corners When They Lack Clear Goals and Feel Overworked

Fans of the television show "The Office" probably enjoy the dry wit and dubious scenarios the show portrays. In all likelihood, they also like the program because they see their own workplace reflected in the show.

While many workplaces don't go as far as the TV show, most people are familiar with firms that repeatedly attempt to alter strategy in the name of improved efficiency. According to new research from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, that kind of environment is a sure-fire way to encourage employees to take short cuts.

"With overworked employees, and employees that endure multiple change initiatives, the workers get cynical," said Judi McLean Parks, the Reuben C. and Anne Carpenter Taylor Professor of Organizational Behavior. McLean Parks conducted her research with doctoral candidate Li Ma. "As a result, they produce work, but they don't care how they produce it."

"Especially in today's business environment, the drive to get things done is so strong that people will chose to reduce the quality of their work just to finish the job," said Ma. "Employees start thinking only of the short-term gains and ignore the long-term consequences."

•	Employees Are Most Likely to Cut Corners When They Lack Clear Goals and Feel Overworked Job Environment eMaxHealth.com, Thursday, April 20, 2006 Byline: Washington University