People management: too much of a good thing?
Work pressure, staff absenteeism due to burnouts and labour shortages are high on the agenda in healthcare and education. Partly because of this, the quality of public services is also under pressure. People management by managers is often seen as a solution to these important social issues. However, isn't it also part of the problem? Can well-intentioned support also have unintended negative effects on employee performance and well-being? This NWO Vidi project systematically investigates this downside of people management in the healthcare and education sector, provides insight into optimal support for employees and offers tools to prevent negative effects.
Researchers
- Eva Knies (project leader)
- Roos Mulder
- Sandra de Kruijf
- Jasmijn van Harten
- Julia Penning de Vries
- Maria Peeters
- Toon Taris
Advisory Council and societal partners
- Dr. D. Giauque, University of Lausanne
- Prof. J. Gould-Williams, Cardiff University
- Prof. C. Jacobsen, Aarhus University
- Prof. T. van der Lippe, Utrecht University
- Dr. L. van Rensen, advisor to the board of directors at Utrecht University’s medical centre, and chair of the supervisory board of a school for primary education
- Prof. J. Schippers, Utrecht University
- Prof. J. Sowa, University of Delaware
- Dr. B. de Wit, programme manager professional school organisation at the Dutch Council for Secondary Education
Duration
2022-2027
Product
A concrete product of this project is, among other things, the TOP tool, a means to optimise the cooperation between a manager and an employee. By using conversation cards, you will look at a situation in which the support of the manager did or did not have a good effect on you as an employee. The tool can be of use for everyone and is freely available (in Dutch).
Current
- The research project in the media: https://darksidepm.com/in-the-media/
Contact
For more information please contact the project leader, prof. Eva Knies: e.knies@uu.nl