Seniority in work groups: A right or an honor?

Abstract

In the New Truck Problem, a role playing case, George, the senior man, receives the truck most often. What happens when he is absent? George received the new truck in 48.5% of 103 student groups who role-played the standard case, but in 73.2% of the 41 groups where he was absent (p difference < .01). Bill, the next most senior man, received the truck significantly (p < .01) less often when George was absent and was not compensated with George's truck. Nevertheless, Bill was not more often dissatisfied. Seniority may be an honor, not a right, and not readily claimable by the senior man. Also group members are often willing to sacrifice personal gain for the group's benefit. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)