Pay Flexibility in an Ageing Workforce. A Model of Pay for the German Building Trade

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Statement of the problem
• Research aim with questions and objectives
• Overview of the methodology
• Rationale and significance
• Role of the researcher
• Organisation of the thesis
• Literature review
• Working with teams
• Team processes and group dynamics
• Communication in work teams
• Effects of a higher average age in work teams
• Changing workforce composition
• Age structure in the German building trade
• Team performance and productivity
• Team effectiveness and successful teamwork
• Summary
• The interrelation between performance and pay
• Performance in anticipation of pay
• Effects of perceived unjust pay to performance
• Motivation in connection with pay and performance
• Summary
• Rewarding teams
• Pay based on the job or on skills
• Seniority-based pay
• Performance-based pay
• Team-based pay
• Collective bargaining agreements in the German building trade
• Effectiveness of team-based-pay
• Pay flexibility and more dynamism in pay
• Theoretical concept and conclusions
• Research Methodology
• Structured organisational plan
• Methodological foundations
• Embodied philosophy and researcher's values
• Adopting an inductive approach
• Qualitative research
• Selection of the research design
• Case study research design
• Research sample and data sources
• Limitations and delimitations
• Data collection using triangulation
• Description of the procedure
• Selection of the cases
• The method of semi-structured and in-depth expert interviews
• The method of focus group
• Data analysis methods and interpretation
• Quality criteria in case study research
• Ethics of qualitative research
• Own methodological experiences
• Data collection and findings from the case studies
• Structure of the case organisations
• Different headings of the data collection
• Data that emerged from the expert interviews
• Data that emerged from the focus groups
• Further data interpretation
• Cross-case matrix of different performance shapes
• Cross-case analysis
• Labour market conditions influences on pay flexibility
• Moral dilemma of pay flexibility
• Summarized findings of the expert interviews and focus groups
• Results of the research
• Why pay flexibility at all?
• Requirements for a model of pay flexibility
• The Four-dimensions-model of pay flexibility
• The central factors of the model
• The dimension of "individually"
• The dimension of "contractually"
• The dimension of "collectively"
• The dimension of "market-oriented"
• Contributions and an outlook to further research

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis explores the implications of demographic change, particularly the increasing average age of workers, on team performance within the German building trade. It investigates how this shift affects team dynamics and communication, and seeks to understand the relationship between performance and pay in this context.

• The impact of an ageing workforce on team performance and dynamics in the German building trade.
• The relationship between performance and pay in teams, particularly in light of demographic changes.
• The development of a model for pay flexibility that accounts for the unique characteristics of the building trade.
• The potential benefits and challenges of implementing a pay flexibility model in the German building trade.
• The need to address the shortage of skilled workers in the building trade by making the sector more attractive.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter introduces the research problem and the study's aims, objectives, and methodology. It discusses the significance of the research and outlines the organization of the thesis. Chapter two presents a literature review examining relevant theories and existing research related to teamwork, the effects of an ageing workforce, the interrelation between performance and pay, rewarding teams, and pay flexibility.

Chapter three details the research methodology, outlining the approach, design, data collection methods, data analysis techniques, and ethical considerations. Chapter four presents the data collected from case studies conducted in twelve different building businesses, exploring the specific challenges and opportunities related to pay flexibility in this context.

Chapter five, based on the findings from the case studies, develops a comprehensive four-dimension model of pay flexibility tailored to the German building trade. This model addresses the challenges posed by an ageing workforce and seeks to improve team performance and attract skilled workers.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The main focus of this research lies on understanding the implications of demographic change, particularly an ageing workforce, on team performance and pay flexibility within the German building trade. Key themes include team dynamics, communication, age-related changes in performance, the relationship between performance and pay, and the development of a pay flexibility model that addresses the specific needs of the building industry. The study examines the challenges and opportunities presented by an ageing workforce and proposes a practical solution to enhance competitiveness and attract skilled workers.