The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

DESIGNING WORK / 35

GET THE RIGHT PERSON

FOR THE JOB

It is very difficult to

completely change how a

person performs, so try to

match people to jobs that

they are good at. This will

make them most likely to

achieve good results.

Tip

COMBINE TASKS

Put existing fragmented

tasks together to form

larger modules of work.

This can help increase

skill variety and

task identity.

ESTABLISH CLIENT

RELATIONSHIPS

Building direct

relationships between

the worker and the client—

the user of the product

or the service that

the employee works

on—increases skill

variety, autonomy,

and feedback.

EXPAND JOBS

VERTICALLY

Giving employees

responsibilities formerly

reserved for managers

closes the gap between the

“doing” and “controlling”

aspects of the job, and

increases autonomy.

IMPROVE FEEDBACK

CHANNELS

Feedback tells employees

how well they are

performing, and whether

their performance is

improving, deteriorating,

or remaining constant.

Employees should receive

feedback directly as they

do their jobs.

Ways to

design work

by enhancing

the five

dimensions

US_034-035_Designing_Work.indd 35 30/05/16 3:00 pm