OS 352 2/7/08

I. Video: Clockwork and scientific management

II. Job design options.

III. Please read chapter 5 for Thurs., 2/14.

IV. Have a nice break!

What is a job? Job: A set of related duties. Similar, but different concepts:

position: the set of duties performed by a particular person.

occupation: job or collection of jobs across a number of different organizations

Example: Prof. Graham.Job: Associate Professor.Position: Prof. Graham holds one of many associate professor positions at Clarkson.Occupation: College professor.

Job DesignThe process of defining how work will be performed and what tasks will be required in a given job.

Approaches: Scientific approach / Industrial Engineering Motivational

Scientific Management Goals: Job Design:

Pay: Role of mgt.: Role of workers:

Taylor’s “Win-Win” Approach

From scientific management, benefits will flow to … Nations Firms Management Workers

“Soldiering”(Taylor)

Underworking … deliberately working slowly so as to avoid doing a full day’s work …

3 causes:

1) Hard work threatens job security

2) Natural (individual worker tendency) and systematic (other workers) influences

3) Inefficient methods of work

The Job Characteristics Theory of Work Motivation

Core JobCore JobCharacteristicsCharacteristics

Critical Critical Psychological StatesPsychological States

Personal andPersonal andWork OutcomesWork Outcomes

Skill VarietiesTask IdentityTask Significance

Autonomy

Feedback

Experienced Meaning-fulness of the Work

Experienced Respon-sibility for WorkOutcomes

Knowledge of Resultsfrom Work Activities

High InternalWork Motivation

High-QualityWork Performance

High SatisfactionWith the Work

Low Turnoverand Absenteeism

Strength of Relationshipsis Determined by Intensityof Employee Growth Need

Fig. 2-3 © 1998 by Prentice Hall

Motivational Approaches(e.g., Job Characteristics Model)

Goals: Job Design:

Pay: Role of mgt.: Role of workers:

Enhancing the Motivational Potential of Jobs

Job enlargement Job extension Job rotation

Job enrichment Work teams Flexible work schedules Attention to ergonomics

and the capacities of workers

Your turn: Enrich and Enlarge this Lifeguard’s Job (see job description)

Enlarge:

1)

2)

Enrich:

1)

2)

Ergonomics

The study of the interface between individuals’ physiology and the characteristics of the physical work environment.

Goal: minimize physical strain on the worker.

Examples: Adjusting the height of a computer keyboard. Desk chair design. New ramps and forklifts to carry crates.

Reduced Load

Professional or managerial jobs that are designed to be less than full-time.

Examples:

The HR Manager job in a small firm is held by someone who works 30 hours per week.

The Audit Manager job in a public accounting firm is held by someone who works 40 hours per week during the busy season (Jan.-April) and 20 hours per week otherwise.