Outcome of Autonomous Workgroups: A Long-Term Field Experiment.

A quasi-experimental design was used to study the long-term effects of implementation of autonomous workgroups in a manufacturing environment. Results indicated a substantial and lasting effect on employees' intrinsic job satisfaction, a more temporary effect on extrinsic job satisfaction, and no consequences for work motivation or performance. At an organizational level, however, improvements in productivity were made possible through elimination of supervisory positions; and contrary to prediction, labor turnover increased.