Psychosocial Work Factors - Fundamentals and Assessment Tools for Occupational Ergonomics - page 556

systems approach, negative psychosocial work factors can be balanced out or compensated by positive
work factors.
Some trends in the field of organizational design and management may have positive characteristics
from a psychosocial point of view. For instance, under certain conditions, the use of quality engineering
and management methods can positively affect the psychosocial work environment, such as increased
opportunity for participation, and learning and development of quality-related skills (Smith et al.,
1989). However, other trends in the business world can have negative effects on the psychosocial work
environment. For instance, downsizing and other organizational restructuring and reengineering may
create highly stressful situations of uncertainty and loss of control (DOL 1995).
26.7 Conclusion
This chapter has demonstrated the importance of psychosocial work factors in the research and practice
of occupational ergonomics. In order to clarify the issue at hand, we presented definitions of work
organization and psychosocial work factors. It is important to understand the long research tradition
on psychosocial work factors that has produced numerous models and theories, but also valid and
reliable methods for measuring psychosocial work factors. At the end of the chapter, we presented
examples of methods for managing and controlling psychosocial work factors.
Psychosocial work factors need to be taken into account in the research on and practice of occu-
pational ergonomics. We have discussed the important role of psychosocial work factors with regard
to physical ergonomics. In addition, given the constantly changing world of work and organizations,
we need to pay even more attention to the multiple aspects of people at work, including psychosocial
work factors.
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