WORK DESIGN

• Job Design
• Specialization
• Behavioral Approaches to Job Design
Matter of •
•
Motivation
Teams
study: •
•
Ergonomics
Quality of Work
• Compensation
ELEMENTS OF TWO BASIC SCHOOL OF
THOUGHTS:

Efficiency school Behavioural school

It emphasizes a systematic, It emphasizes satisfaction of

logical approach to job wants and need.
design.
 JOB DESIGN
JOB DESIGN INVOLVES SPECIFYING THE CONTENT AND METHODS OF
JOBS.

What will be done in

a job

Who will do the job

Job
Designers
How the job will be
focus is on done
Where the job will
be done
 Work that concentrates on some aspect of a product
or service.

FOCUS – Concentrates one’s effort towards one

SPECIALIZATION type of work and thereby become proficient at that
type of work.
EXAMPLES - Assembly line to medical
specialties, college professors often specialize in
teaching certain courses ,etc.
 ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
FOR MANAGEMENT: FOR MANAGEMENT:
 Difficult to motivate quality
 High productivity
 Worker dissatisfaction lead to
Simplifies training absenteeism and high turnover
Low wage cost FOR EMPLOYEES:
FOR EMPLOYEES:  Monotonous work

Low education and skill requirements  Limited opportunities for advancement

 Little control over work
Minimum responsibilities
 Little opportunity for self fulfilment
Little mental effort needed
ERGONOMICS

• Derived from two Greek words:

• “Nomoi”- meaning natural laws
• “Ergon” meaning work
• ERGONOMICS is the science and the art of
fitting the job and the workplace to wotkers
needs.
• It’s the study of work
• It’s a way to make jobs/tasks fit the employees
better.
• It a way to make work easier
WHY IS ERGONOMICS IMPORTANT?

• Ergonomics is important because when you’re doing a

job and your body is stressed by an awkward posture,
extreme temperature, or repeated movement your
musculoskeletal system is affected.Your body may begin
to have symptoms such as fatigue, discomfort, and pain,
which can be the first signs of a musculoskeletal
disorder.
Physical ergonomics:
it’s the human body’s responses to physical and
physiological work loads. E.g. : repetitive movements,
layout, health and safety.

TYPES OF
Cognitive ergonomics:
it deals with the mental processes and capacities of
ERGONOMICS
humans when at work. E.g.: mental workload,
decision making, human-computer interaction and
work stress.

Organizational ergonomics:
it deals with the organizational structure, policies
and processes in the work environment.
Eg: shift work, job satisfaction, motivation, supervision,
teamwork, telecommuting and ethics.
QUALITY OF WORK
LIFE
• IT IS DEFINED AS THE FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS AND
ENVIRONMENTS OF WORK PLACE THAT SUPPORT AND PROMOTE
EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION BY PROVIDING THEM WITH REWARDS, JOB
SECURITY, AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES.

• QWL AFFECTS NOT ONLY WORKERS OVERALL SENSE OF WELL

BEING AND CONTENTMENT, BUT ALSO WORKERS PRODUCTIVITY.
 QUALITY OF WORK LIFE

KEY ASPECTS
• Getting along well with co-workers.

• Having good Managers.

• Having Leadership style.

• Working conditions and compensations.

 WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Factors
• Temperature and Humidity

• Ventilation

• Illumination

• Noise and Vibration

 WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Factors

• Work Time and Work Breaks

• Occupational Health Care

• Safety
 COMPENSATION

• Compensation schemes:
• Time based-- most common in healthcare
• Output based-- more difficult to operationalize, yet pay is related to efforts
• Incentive Systems
• Profit sharing plans-- receive % of profits
• Gain sharing plans-- receive a % of the value (i.e., cost savings) realized through
increases in productivity