The Impact of Background Music on the Work-Life of Managerial and Non-Managerial Level Staff in a Sri Lankan Apparel Organisation: A Case Study

Abstract

Background music plays a pivotal role in organisational aesthetics. Hence, this research project attempts to identify how music has affected the different layers of staff in an organisation and whether it has had any positive influence on work-life in one of the leading organisations in Sri Lanka’s apparel sector. This study was designed using the single case study method as the qualitative method of inquiry. Leading Sri Lankan apparel manufacturers, Deadline Ltd. was chosen as the case unit concerning the unique application of background music. Semi-structured interviews and unstructured observations were incorporated into the study to gather data. During the semi-structured interview process, audio records were generated and converted to written form using a data transcribing process. Field notes were generated during the unstructured observation. The outputs were combined together to derive common themes and were analysed thoroughly. Most of the participants agreed that background music has a positive impact on their work-attributes by enabling psychological motives through reduction of job-related stress, tiredness and literary enjoyment, thus enabling positive motives for work. Indeed, referring to the findings, Deadline Ltd has designed its background music to cater to the choice of its diversified workforce. This has created a unique way of life for the staff layers in alliance with their socio-cultural status. Consequently, this has been influential in deriving different environmental stimuli that distinguish hierarchical differences. This has applied as a creative way of a communication system as well. Supplementary background music has reduced alienation while encouraging positive interaction among workers, enabling fresh routine for work-life within different work-shifts. Accordingly, Deadline Ltd has effectively tailored the arrangement of background music to address the diverse requirements of each staff audience to assimilate the aesthetic practices with the staff management strategy, minimising the possible of contradiction of different preferences. As such, this case study showcases the importance of unique musical arrangements, which can effectively interact with contextual differences. This study affirms that an ideal arrangement of background music can generate several favourable outcomes as a facilitator for employee performance, enabling positive outcomes for both employees and organisation simultaneously.

Keywords: Aestheticisation, Background-music, Work-Life, Managerial, Non-managerial