Job Design
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Introduction
Job design is broadly defined as level and breadth of job content, over-time variability in task assignment, specific mix of assigned tasks, use of teams, and the level of autonomy granted to individual workers or teams (Baron and David, 2000: p 334).
TodayÐÐŽÐЇs business environment, correct job design can help a company to become successful and competitive in the market. The job design is more emphasized and focuses. Since jobs have to be designed using processes that model new types of job design. These theories are that design processes and the resulting job designs must recognize that nature of knowledge work is different from administrative and operational work and that the people who perform it resist structured approaches and need other things in their work.
This assignment is aimed to a variety of issues related to job design; it will be discussing the philosophy that resulted in their initial development and some broad principles that suggest a shift away from a constricted set of job responsibilities to a more broadened approach to the division of work.
In this assignment, I will describe the theories of HerzbergÐÐŽÐЇs Two-Factors Model and the Job Characteristics Model of Hackman and Oldham and knowledge work. Second, I will to identify the reasons why General Electric is so successful, while the Bank of XingYe is not that successful in the real world. Finally is the conclusion of my finds.
2.0 The theories of Job Design
2.1 Theories of Herzberg applied in job design
In HertzbergÐÐŽÐЇs Two-factor Model, which is also known as Motivation-Hygiene Model, Herzberg proposes a list of factors that lead to satisfaction (Motivators) and an additional list of factors that lead to dissatisfaction (Hygiene factors). The motivators are typically related to intrinsic factors such as recognition, achievement, responsibility, and the content of work itself. Hygiene factors are related to extrinsic factors such as the environment of the job, salaries, company policies, the quality of supervision, and the interpersonal relations.
The summarized in Figure 1 below:
Design Theory
Model Element
Implication
Design Response
Herzberg
(motivation is found in job content, not extrinsic Factors)
Motivators
Build motivators into job
Job enrichment
Job Rotation
Empowerment self Directed Teams
Hackman & Oldham
(psychological characteristics of the job itself determine motivation and commitment to high levels of output)
Skill Variety
Task Identity
Task Significance
Autonomy
Feedback
Redesign jobs so that they maximize the combination of all five of the core psychological design elements of quality jobs
Job enlargement
Job rotation
(for variety)
Job Enrichment
Task significance
Empowerment self-directed
teams
(for Identity, significance, and autonomy)
360 Feedback
(Re: e-book: HRM, module 9: Job design)
2.2 Theories of Hackman and Oldham applied in job design
Hackman and Oldham propose another model of job enrichment that is called Job Characteristics Model. In this model, the degree to which jobs are motivation can be assessed through five core job characteristics: skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and job feedback. The higher a job scores on each characteristic, the more it is considered to be enriched. The Hackman/Oldham model is summarized in Figure 2 below:( Re: e-book: module9: job design)
Knowledge work
According to above, We can found impact of job design in the modern world of knowledge workers that many of our cutting edge organization, especially those smaller firms who have to compete with the larger more established companies.
Nowadays, knowledge work is a significant role in the company. The companies often choose and intermediate approach that reflects the type of knowledgeable work, the organizational culture, and the business requirement of the projects. They must recognize that the nature of knowledge work is different from administrative and operational work and that the people who perform it resist structured approaches.
In the ÐÐŽÐoImproving knowledge work processesÐЎб written by Tom Davenport, the author found that the methods use to improve knowledge work processes in the companies we fell on a continuum. One extreme of the continuum might be characterized as ÐÐŽÐoreengineering.ÐЎб At the other extreme of the continuum we would place the traditional ÐÐŽÐolaissez-faireÐЎб view of knowledge work, in which knowledge workers are viewed as fully responsible for designing and executing their own work. These extremes of the continuum are summarized in Figure 3, and described in some detail below:
Laissez faire
Reengineering
Strategy
Hire good people and leave them alone
Get people to do work differently
Focus
Inputs/ outcomes
Activities
Detail
Marco
Micro
Evaluation
Multi-yearly
Hourly/daily
Level
Individual
Large group
Participation
Broad
Narrow
Commitment
Persuasion
Mandate
Analytic Emphasis
Understanding existing
environment
Design new environment
Work Done By
Insiders
Outsiders
Primary Barrier
Loyalty to discipline
Fear of change