High Performance Work Systems and the End of Fun : A Great World of Work

High Performance Work Systems are generally considered to have a positive impact on workers’ well-being. But is this actually the case? This classroom-material will discuss this question from the point of view of “End of Fun”, a controversial and widely-discussed book by Judith Mair (2003), claiming that traditional work systems provide a more beneficial work environment as well as better organizational performance. In order to do so, this presentation and the work sheets provide an introduction to High Performance Work Systems (HPWS) and discuss their components from the “End of Fun” perspective. In the process it gives an overview of the most important aspects of HWPS. This material is appropriate for advanced students of management. It complements the article “High Performance Work Systems and the End of Fun: Do High Performance Work Systems Provide a More Human Work Environment?” by the same authors, available on http://ssrn.com/abstract=1719403