Work Design

Abstract

AbstractIn this chapter we review Industrial/Organizational Psychology research on work design. To do so, the chapter is divided into seven sections. First, the five major work design perspectives are reviewed, including scientific management, job enrichment approaches, sociotechnical systems theory, the social information processing perspective, and the interdisciplinary model of job design. Second, contextual influences (social and structural) on work design are identified. Third, research that has examined the characteristics of work is investigated, including the structure of work, whether work can be viewed as objective characteristics or subjective perceptions, and measurement concerns with existing work design research. In addition, copies of the scales that have been used to operationalize the most common work characteristics are provided. Fourth, the mediating mechanisms assumed to be responsible for work design outcomes are reviewed. Fifth, the outcomes of work design are identified, which includes psychological and behavioral outcomes, as well as individual differences in reactions to work design. Sixth, based on the review, an integrated work design framework is developed (Figure 1). Finally, several additional issues in work design are discussed, including the changing nature of work, tensions inherent in work design approaches, and important work design research needs.