Unit 7: Work Systems Design
It seems reasonable that a worker's level of job satisfaction would influence his or her job performance. At some point in your life, you have probably performed a job task that you did not enjoy. Perhaps the work was too physically demanding or there was a problem with the location of the work area. Or perhaps the work was so monotonous that you were starved for mental stimulation. One of the ways that operations managers can impact job satisfaction is through work systems design. In this unit, we will explore how operations managers use strategies like skill variety, task significance, or work organization to enhance job performance. We will also consider models for analyzing work to eliminate unnecessary tasks and regulate the duration of each stage in a production line.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 3 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- evaluate the appropriateness of a work systems design for a given operational context to optimize performance;
- explain the principles behind using a motion study to improve process performance in service industries; and
- analyze worker output in non-repetitive job tasks using work sampling.
- evaluate the appropriateness of a work systems design for a given operational context to optimize performance;
7.1: Job Design
Read this section and pay attention to the approaches to job design and the importance of the key elements to good design. This is important because efficiency and effectiveness is directly related to the way in which a job is designed. Good job design takes attention to detail and alignment with process.
The core dimensions and techniques of job design are important because different combinations of these core dimensions motivate different types of employees. Each of the core dimensions can be viewed as if on a continuum. You may need a high skill variety and a low task identity for a specific job.
This section discusses the research associated with high-performance work systems from a human resource department’s perspective. This is important because high-performance work systems are the holy grail of organizations focused on quality and Lean.
After you review what you've seen so far in this unit, post and respond to this topic on the discussion forum.
Take each core job dimension and using a 1–10 scale (where 1 is lowest and 10 is highest), rate each dimension in relation to your current job or a job that you have had in the past. Based on your job experience, how did the job design impact your job satisfaction, loyalty to the organization, and quality of work and performance? Based on your answer, how would you redesign your job in relation to these core dimensions? If you have never had a job, think about a volunteer experience you may have had, or you might try answering the above questions based on your dream job.
7.2: Motion Study
Read this page. Pay close attention to the types of time and motion studies and the criticisms associated with this approach. Time motion studies have been used and continue to be used in all types of organizations. This source creates a foundation for application of time motion studies within an operations context.
Review this article about Taylor's Principles of Scientific Management. Explore the different observations he made about time and motion, and how efficiency could be improved. Take the quiz at the end of the article to test your understanding of what you have read.
7.3: Work Measurement
Read this section, which will help you understand work measurement from an HR department’s perspective. Pay close attention to the Balanced Scorecard method and consider the implications for a manufacturing and service organization. Use of this method is useful in getting a picture of the organization’s effectiveness beyond the financial statements. As you read, keep figure 16.10 in mind and consider the balanced scorecard would help your organization make better decisions related to operations.
In addition to measuring employee output, it is equally important to measure the employee experience in the workplace. Read this article to examine the definition of an employee experience, the best ways in which to measure that experience, and the levels at which a company is determined to evaluate that experience. Consider your own work experiences and whether the company has taken the time to measure employees' attitudes.
7.4: Project Management Issues
This section explores different methods for dealing with problems, the value of addressing problems early, and why it is important to have methods in place for problems that are certain to arise. Pay particular attention to the Responsibility Matrix, while plays a key role in how methods are developed and applied. Try the exercises at the end of chapter to test your new knowledge.
Unit 7 Activity and Assessment
Complete this activity, in which you identify the operational processes in your own organization.
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.