Organizational Policy Decisions as a Function of Task Design and Individual Abilities, Preferences and Orientations.
Abstract
The research has involved the development and validation of a Congruence Model of job design which allows for the prediction of productivity, work satisfaction, and tenure. The Congruence Model is based on an assumption that task, workers and organizational factors interact in a work situation. The model incorporates the variables of information processing abilities, preferred job features (such as variety), individual expectations concerning the task (the job will have variety), described task characteristics (the job has variety) and objective measures of the complexity of the task (such as number of decisions to be made). The Congruence Model has been supported in a series of field studies involving naval and civilian personnel and laboratory studies which simulated monitoring tasks and maintenance tasks. Results have pointed to the key role of information processing abilities in influencing preferences for certain job attributes and in determining performance, and job satisfaction outcomes. In general, individuals with higher levels of ability expressed preferences for jobs which include more variety. Specific information processing abilities have been identified which relate positively to job performance in monitoring tasks but negatively to job satisfaction so that individuals with the most task related ability derive the least satisfaction from performing a monitoring task. The major research finding is that computerized measures of information processing ability relate to monitoring performance. In addition, computerized measures of information processing preferences relate to task satisfaction.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA080527
Entities
People
- Faye M. Dambrot
- Gerald V. Barrett
- Ralph A. Alexander
Organizations
- University of Akron