with private sector organizations) dictate against the attainment of meaningful productivity improvements (Atkinson and Halvorsen, 1986). This charge has been levelled specifically at the USPS (Register, 1988). In this context, it is often held that certain efficiency enforcing incentives pre sent in private sector firms are absent in public sector organ izations (Bennett and Johnson, 1979; Pescatrice and Trapani, 1980). In seeking solutions to productivity problems, public sector managers, as is also true of private sector managers, are also bedeviled by the contradictions in human resource management research, such as those represented by the findings of Taylor, and Mayo, which were discussed in the introductory remarks.
The proposed research study described herein will attempt to answer some of the questions associated with the problem of productivity improvement in the public sector. The effects, if any, on productivity of compensation increases, and the degree of worker job autonomy will be measured and assessed in the proposed study.
In the private sector, studies have found links between productivity improvement and both compensation and autonomy (Davy, 1983; Norsworthy and Malmquist, 1985). There have also been theorizations that such factors can influence productivity in public sector organizations (Gortner, 1987; Mercer and Koester, 1978). In the proposed research study, two research questions related to these relationships will be investigated. These research questions are as follows:
1. Can compensation increases lead to productivity improvements in the USPS?
2. Can increased job autonomy for USPS employees lead to improved productivity?
The findings of the proposed research study will be valu able for USPS management, regardless of their content. A find ing of positive links between productivity and either or both compensation and job autonomy will provide USPS management with a human resources m...