THE INFLUENCE OF ACCOUNTS ON PERCEIVED SOCIAL LOAFING IN WORK TEAMS

Abstract

This study used a critical incidents methodology to examine the influence of accounts on perceived social loafing and evaluations of team member, and to investigate the face management and responsibility explanations of account‐giving. The results of this study suggest that communicative acts such as accounts may reduce perceived loafing. In addition, perceived loafing and evaluations of the team member were influenced by the type of account provided; concessions were more effective in decreasing perceptions of social loafing and increasing evaluations of the team member than excuses and justifications which, in turn, were more effective than refusals. These findings indicate tentative support for the face management explanation of account effectiveness.

Citation

Tata, J. (2002), "THE INFLUENCE OF ACCOUNTS ON PERCEIVED SOCIAL LOAFING IN WORK TEAMS", International Journal of Conflict Management, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 292-308. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb022878