Study on self-regulated management and discretionary work sysytem

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K01825
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 07080:Business administration-related
• Research Institution: Kansai University
• Principal Investigator: MORITA MASAYA 関西大学, 社会学部, 教授 (40247896)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 裁量労働制 / 自己規制した管理 / 自律性 / 境界決定の自律性 / やろうと思えばできる安心感

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The study was carried out mainly through a questionnaire survey (366 workers for those applying for discretionary work system for specialized work and 196 workers for those applying for discretionary work system for management-related work, for a total of 562 workers) and interviews with those applying for discretionary work systems. The results showed that "self-regulated management" may be effective for discretionary work systems that legally grant workers "boundary autonomy".
The requirement for "self-regulated management" includes the thorough fulfillment of safety considerations, such as the systematic deterrence of long working hours, providing "peace of mind that we can do it if we want to", managers' understanding of the purpose of the system and their actions, and the selection of appropriate jobs and employees.
However, how to change from traditional management practices to "self-regulated management" remains a challenge for the future.

Free Research Field

経営学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

労働者の時間決定に関する自律性（境界決定の自律性）を法的に認める裁量労働制には、過酷な長時間労働に繋がるといった批判も多い。しかし、境界決定の自律性を認めた柔軟な働き方が今後ますます社会的に求められるであろう中、「自己規制した管理」によって裁量労働制が労使双方に有効な制度として機能する可能性を示せた点が学術的かつ社会的な意義と言える。
この成果は、裁量労働制や高度プロフェッショナル制度が、労働者に過度の負担を強いることがなく自律的に働ける制度として社会に受け入れられることと、これらの普及の促進に繋げられる可能性がある点にも社会的意義が見出される。