Question

Analyze the five core characteristics of job design that drive work outcomes.

Answer 1

The Job Design Model is based on one principle: It's the job that provides motivation. On the basis of this, it was argued that repetitive and boring tasks led to a reduction in the motivation of the employees while offering varying tasks improved it considerably. For this model, the five characteristics important in a job design were identified which are as follows:

• Skills variety - This helps in determining if the tasks of the job are varied and provide motivation and challenge to the employee or are they monotonous and boring leading to boredom and lack of motivation.
• Task identity -This helps in determining if the tasks involved for the job have a beginning and the end. It is argued that getting to an end of a task provides satisfaction to the employees and will lead to increased motivation in employees.
• Task significance - This helps in determining if the employees feel that their work has meaning while performing their job duties. Without any real meaning to their work, motivation gets reduced.
• Task autonomy - This helps in determining if the individual performing the job duties has any authority and say in how to perform them. This helps in increasing the motivation of the employees if there is freedom in performing job tasks.
• Job feedback - This determines if and how the employees receive feedback on task completion. Regular and uplifting feedback often increases motivation among employees.