Oxford Handbook of Human Resource Management

In WERS 98 , three variables relating to job autonomy and enrichment are
included: job variety, method control, and timing control, alongside four other
relevant work organization practices: teamworking; functionalXexibility; quality
circles; and suggestion schemes. The skill acquisition practices included in our
study are: induction procedures; team brieWng; information disclosure; appraisal;
and training oriented towards human relations. In WERS 98 , the motivational
practices are: survey feedback method; motivation as a major selection criterion;
internal recruitment; single status between managers and non-managers; job
security guarantees; and variable pay. We also analyzed a general training measure,
whose distribution is nearly uniform in the sample and thus does not vary enough
for tests of its association with other variables. The most adopted practices are team
brieWng ( 87 percent in the sample and 82 percent in the economy) and motivation
as a selection criterion ( 87 percent in the sample and 86 percent in the economy).
The least adopted practice is job security ( 15 percent in the sample and 10. 6 percent
in the economy). All in all, we observe a signiWcant variation in adoption levels but
only a few practices are widely used (Table 28. 3 ). The most used practices are
concerned with information-sharing.

Table 28.3 The provision of high-involvement practices for non-managerial

employees

In WERS98 (unweighted

percentage)

In the economy (weighted

percentage)

Job variety 41 47

Method control 22 28

Timing control 19 24

Teamworking 69 59

Functional flexibility 51 46

Quality circles 55 37

Suggestion schemes 39 32

Team briefing 87 82

Induction 84 73

Training for human relations 49 39

Information disclosure 85 86

Appraisal 56 50

Survey feedback 33 22

Internal recruitment 35 25

Motivation as a selection criterion 87 86

Job security 16 11

Single status 58 57

Variable pay 37 26

management in britain 589