An Empirical Critique of Graeber’s Theory of BS Jobs

Explain why managers might wish to make work meaningful for workers, and outline one way they can do so.

•We have already established why workers might wish to make work meaningful. For Graeber, jobs with limited social value have negative psychological consequences for employees. For Soffia et al jobs where workers are not valued have negative social consequences for employees.

•You might wish to explain which thesis you find most confusing – and therefore why this matters. Is purpose which connects to meaning an ethical issue and/or one that relates to efficiency?

•How can managers ensure work has meaning and purpose – what can they do? The answer to this might depend on the underlying argument – Graeber might give a different answer to this than Soffia et al.

•Either way, and potentially working from one or the other perspective, you need to give an example of what managers can do .Why might managers wish to make work meaningful?•Consider for example different job roles.
•Can all workers have voice? Can all workers be offered more autonomy, etc?
•Do managers have the power to manipulate cultures and processes to make this happen?
•Does this take us back to division between good and bad jobs?