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Chapter 9 People, jobs and organization 247
Figure 9.8 Job enlargement and job enrichment
quality levels. The effect is both to reduce repetition in the job and to increase autonomy
and personal development. So, in the assembly-line example, each operator, as well as being
allocated a job which is twice as long as that previously performed could also be allocated
responsibility for carrying out routine maintenance and such tasks as record-keeping and
managing the supply of materials. Figure 9.8 illustrates the difference between what are called
‘horizontal’ and ‘vertical’ changes. Broadly, horizontal changes are those which extend the
variety of similar tasks assigned to a particular job. Vertical job changes are those which add
responsibilities, decision making or autonomy to the job. Job enlargement implies movement
only in the horizontal scale, whereas job enrichment certainly implies movement on the
vertical scale and perhaps on both scales.
Short case
McDonald’s lets families
share job
In what was thought to be the first contract of its type
in the UK, McDonald’s the quick-service restaurant
chain, announced in 2005 that it was to allow family
members to cover each other’s jobs. Under the deal
members of the same family working in the same outlet
would be able to work each other’s shifts without giving
any prior notice or getting a manager’s permission.
The company said that it hoped the contracts would,
‘encourage people to become fully trained and fully
rotatable’. But that the main aim was to, ‘cut absenteeism
and improve staff retention’. ‘It’s great’, said one
McDonald’s employee, ‘Depending on how we feel
in a morning, we decide which one of us wants to
go in and work.’ Although the scheme is currently limited
to family members only, McDonald’s said that they might
consider extending it to cover friends who work at the
same restaurant.
Source: Corbis/Reuters
Empowerment
Empowerment
Empowerment is an extension of the autonomy job characteristic prominent in the behavioural
approach to job design. However, it is usually taken to mean more than autonomy.
Whereas autonomy means giving staff the ability to change how they do their jobs, empowerment
means giving staff the authority to make changes to the job itself, as well as how it is
performed. This can be designed into jobs to different degrees. 10 At a minimum, staff could be