Comparing the effects of cellular and functional manufacturing on employees' perceptions and attitudes

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not CM represents a source of job enrichment that ultimately translates into positive outcomes for the individual and the organization. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested: (1) job characteristics mediate the effects of CM on employees' attitudes, and (2) growth need strength moderates the effects of job characteristics on attitudes. To test the hypotheses, data were collected at two manufacturing facilities in the midwest that produce generic clothing. At plant 1, 85% of the production employees worked in cellular configurations, while 100% of the production at plant 2 was performed in cells. Sixty-eight workers (29 workers from functional departments and 39 cellular workers) completed surveys at plant 1, while eighty-five cellular workers completed surveys at plant 2. The results indicate that CM has both positive and negative effects on employees' attitudes. Consistent with the job characteristics model, job characteristics positively mediate the effects of CM on employees' attitudes. However, the findings indicate that CM has negative direct effects on employees' attitudes suggesting that unmeasured variables such as reliance on co-workers mediate the negative effects of CM. There was no support for the prediction that growth need strength moderates the effects of CM on attitudes. Several complementary explanations for our findings are discussed.