The problem of routine work: Western and Eastern perspectives Online publication date: Sat, 30-Aug-2014
by Scott R. Herriott
International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management (IJICBM), Vol. 9, No. 1, 2014
Abstract: Routine work includes both repetitive activities in manufacturing and monotonous work in service systems. The familiar psychological consequences of routine work are mental fatigue, boredom, apathy, and alienation, which lead to diminished motivation, creativity, and job satisfaction. Behavioural effects are absenteeism, carelessness and negligence, which diminish the intended efficiencies to be had from the separation of functions in routinised work systems. The Western approach to solving the problems of routine work is to modify the job or job context or to select employees around individual characteristics that affect proneness to boredom. The Eastern approach, here represented by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Vedic perspective on management, brings new light to an old problem. This approach is to develop the consciousness of the individual, which increases psychophysiological flexibility, heightens alertness, creativity, and intelligence, and enhances self-actualisation, making fulfilment a state of being rather than an outcome of activity.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management (IJICBM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook