Donald Whatley Roy

Donald Whatley Roy (1911–1980) was an American sociologist and industrial relations scholar. He is best known for his work on workplace behavior and conflict resolution, particularly his concept of the "banana time" game.

Early Life and Education

Donald Whatley Roy was born in 1911 in America. He pursued his higher education at the University of Chicago, where he received his PhD in sociology in 1946. His doctoral thesis was on the topic of "Work Satisfaction and Social Reward in Quota Achievement: An Analysis of Piecework Incentive".

Career

Roy began his career as a factory worker, which provided him with firsthand experience of the labor dynamics in an industrial setting. He later transitioned into academia, becoming a professor at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. His research focused on the social aspects of work, including the informal games and rituals that workers use to cope with the monotony and stress of their jobs.

One of his most notable contributions to sociology is the concept of "banana time", a term he coined to describe the informal games and rituals that workers engage in to break up the monotony of their work. This concept has been influential in the field of organizational behavior and has been used to understand and improve workplace dynamics.

Legacy

Donald Whatley Roy's work has had a significant impact on the field of sociology, particularly in the areas of industrial relations and organizational behavior. His concept of "banana time" continues to be used in research and practice to understand and improve workplace dynamics.

See also

• Sociology of work
• Industrial relations
• Organizational behavior