Improving Management Through Worker Evaluations: Evidence from Auto Manufacturing

55 Pages Posted: 17 Aug 2020 Last revised: 18 Feb 2023

See all articles by Jing Cai

Jing Cai

University of Maryland

Shing-Yi B. Wang

University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School

Date Written: August 2020

Abstract

Using a randomized experiment with an automobile manufacturing firm in China, we measure the effects of letting workers evaluate their managers on worker and firm outcomes. In the treatment teams, workers evaluate their supervisors monthly. We find that providing feedback leads to significant reductions in worker turnover and increases in team-level productivity. In addition, workers report higher levels of happiness and positive mood. The evidence suggests that these results are driven by changes in the behavior of managers and an overall better relationship between managers and workers.

Suggested Citation

Cai, Jing and Wang, Shing-Yi B., Improving Management Through Worker Evaluations: Evidence from Auto Manufacturing (August 2020). NBER Working Paper No. w27680, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3675232

Jing Cai (Contact Author)

University of Maryland ( email )

College Park
College Park, MD 20742
United States

Shing-Yi B. Wang

University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School ( email )

3641 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6365
United States

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