Page 225 - Sociology and You

Chapter 6 Groups and Formal Organizations 195
tionships are guided by norms, rituals, and sentiments that are not part of the formal organization. Based on common interests and personal relationships, informal groups are usually formed spontaneously.
When were informal organizations first studied? The existence of in- formal organizations within bureaucracies was first documented in the mid- 1920s, when a group of Harvard researchers was studying the Hawthorne plant of the Western Electric Company in Chicago. In a study of fourteen male machine operators in the Bank Wiring Observation Room, F. J. Roethlisberger and William Dickson (1964, originally published in 1939) observed that work activities and job relationships were based on norms and social sanctions of that particular group of male operators. Group norms prohibited “rate bust- ing” (doing too much work), “chiseling” (doing too little work), and “squeal- ing” (telling group secrets to supervisors). Conformity to these norms was maintained through ridicule, sarcasm, criticism, and hostility.
Why do informal organizations develop? Informal groups exist to meet needs ignored by the formal organization. Modern organizations tend to be impersonal, and informal groups offer personal affection, support, humor, and protection. The study mentioned above pointed out that infor- mal organizations encourage conformity, but the resulting solidarity protects group members from mistreatment by those outside the group.
Despite working in a bureaucratic organization, these construction workers seem to be on very personal terms. How do sociologists explain this?