Apply the Job Characteristics Model in Exhibit 6.2 to THREE of the following positions (choose only 3):
Order taker at McDonald’s
Usher in a movie theater
Receptionist
Manager at an auto rental company
Computer programmer
Insurance salesperson”
Which jobs feature which characteristics most strongly? Which characteristics are missing, and what are the potential consequences? How could you enrich these jobs to feature more of the job characteristics?
The Job Characteristics Model is presented in Exhibit 6.2. This model suggests that five core job characteristics can impact certain employee psychological states that will impact certain work-related outcomes. These five core job characteristics are:
skill variety, the extent to which the work allows an employee to use a variety of acquired skills;
task identity, the extent to which the work allows an employee to complete a “whole” or “identifiable” piece of work;
task significance, the extent to which the employee perceives that his or her work is important and meaningful to those in the organization or those outside of the organization;
autonomy, the extent to which the employee is able to work and determine work procedures at her or his own discretion, free of supervision; and
feedback, the extent to which the work allows the employee to gain a sense of how well job responsibilities are being met.
The model argues that work systems can be designed to enhance motivation, performance, and satisfaction and reduce absenteeism and turnover.
