Another Call from Home: The Work and Family Conflict (videotape), produced by Dartnell. (1992). Chicago

• Author: Sarah R. Deschamps,Marilyn Martin Rossmann
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.3920040213
• Published date: 01 June 1993
• Date: 01 June 1993

212

sociotechnical work design can be applied to a work setting that is quite

common in

a

wide range of service and information-processing organiza-

tions and departments today.

If

the video has a weakness, it is that

it

is difficult in a half hour to

capture a complex sociotechnical work design project. This video does not

provide sufficient detail for an organization to conduct such a project on its

own.

It

is not a how-to instructional video.

It

also minimizes the political

turf battles and team transition problems that are common when such a

change is made. Last, the video is designed primarily for practitioners, and

its value for a scholarly or research-oriented audience is limited.

In general, however,

Improving

Work

Systems

is an interesting and

effective showcase for the power of work design when it is implemented by

managers and employees who are open to new and better ways of working.

It

is

a

believable and motivating

story

related by people who are obviously

proud of the effectiveness of their efforts.

I

would recommend it for use with

managers or employees who are considering the merits of organizational

changes involving work teams, employee empowerment, sociotechnical

design, or similar improvement efforts related to quality and service.

REVIEWED BY

BRUCE N. BARGE

CORPORATE QUALITY CONSULTANT

THE

SAINT PAUL COMPANIES

Another

Call from

Home:

The

Work

and

Family

Conflict

(videotape),

produced by Dartnell.

(1992).

Chicago.

Another

Call

from

Home

introduces trainers, managers, supervisors, and

department heads to the problems related to conflicts between work and

family. This video focuses on increasing

job

satisfaction and morale in order

to

retain valued employees and increase productivity and performance.

It

effectively illustrates several points that have been identified over the last

two decades as significant in resolving conflict between work and family

(Ford Foundation,

1989).

The video clearly shows that employees have

family demands that conflict with their work; untrained managers can

create problems by their response to an employee’s family needs; training

can begin to change a manager’s attitude and behavior; and

it

is in the best

interests of a company to have programs that are responsive to family needs.