Job design and motivation: crafting the work of the public sector

Abstract

Individual motivation in the workplace is influenced by a number of factors, one of the more important of which is the job one does. How that job is designed - the methods through which work-related processes, tasks, autonomy, and responsibility are defined and packaged - serves as the foundation for how individuals evaluate, consider, and understand the concept of a job. When combined with aspects of the work environment, job design becomes a central part of how individuals are motivated at work and how this motivation connects to effectiveness, efficiency, decision-making, and the health and wellness of employees. This chapter begins with a discussion of current understanding of job and work design, focusing on tasks, roles, job impact and significance, the relational aspects of work and the work environment, and multiple forms of individual fit. Next, we link job design and motivation, focusing on the mechanisms through which an individual's experiences with people, processes, and relationships impact their desire to work more intensely and persistently towards goals. Finally, we discuss practices that impact continued job design considerations in the workplace given new challenges in the 21st century, including the role of technology and user experiences, the necessity of collaboration in addressing contemporary challenges, and individual expectations for work experiences. Ensuring that jobs are crafted in a manner that contributes to organizational goals substantively and support meaningful and impactful work will ensure public organizations will thrive into the future.