UNIT – I Lesson 1 HRM – AN OVERVIEW Lesson Outline Nature of ...

4.13. QUALITY OF WORK LIFE (QWL):
QWL refers to a favorable work situation which emphasizes on the strengthening of
relationship, sensitivity, comforts and concern for one another among employees of an
organization. QWL is defined as a process of work organizations which enables its
members at all levels to actively participate in shaping the organization, its environments,
methods and outcomes. Enhanced effectiveness of organization is assessed in terms of
greater financial strength of an organization, the strength of its internal systems and the
satisfaction of its various stakeholders. QWL and organizational effectiveness are
considered to be twin goals of an organization.
Evolution of QWL: Studies related to QWL started in the 1950’s and evolved
through different stages. Eric Trist and his collaborators from Tavistok Institute, London
are pointed as the precursors to research on Quality of Working Life. In that decade, they
had initiated a series of studies that gave origin to a social-technique approach related to
work organization. There was a concern with worker satisfaction and welfare. However,
only in the 1960’s the movement was developed. There was a consciousness about the
importance of trying better ways to organize the work, with the objective of minimizing
negative effects of jobs over the worker. The first movement phase was extended until
1974 – in the USA - when there was an interest fall by QWL in function of economic
questions - energy crisis and increasing inflation. The survival needs of companies made
employees’ interests move away from QWL.
After 1979 the concern with QWL resurged mainly because of the loss of
American industries’ competitiveness before their Japanese competitors. This loss of
competitiveness led to the inquiry of the management styles practiced in other countries
and to relate the programs of productivity to the efforts with the improvement of the
QWL. The term QWL contemplates aspects analyzed previously as motivation,
satisfaction, work conditions, styles of leadership, amongst others. Related to these
aspects, the stack of factors that constitute in positive and negatives points of the work is
ample. There are concepts diversifications about QWL. Reviewing a conceptual panorama
over QWL, it is found to refer to the favorableness or otherwise of a job environment for
people. The basic purpose is to develop jobs that are excellent for people as well as for
production. QWL is a process by which an organization attempts to unlock the creative
potential of its people by involving them in decisions affecting their work and personal
lives.