Reference no: EM132179376

Experiential exercise: A Job redesign effort

This activity will help you consider ways in which work can be redesigned to improve its impact on people and its benefit to the organization. Consider the following case:

Eddie is a quality control inspector for an automotive assembly line. His job is to inspect the body, interior, and engine of cars as they roll off the assembly line. Eddie’s responsibility is to identify quality problems that either hinder the functioning of these parts of the car or noticeably mar the car’s appearance. He is to report the problem so that it can be corrected. Sometimes late in the day, especially on Thursdays and Fridays, Eddie lets assembly problems slip past him. In addition, Eddie’s back feels sore at the end of the day, and sometimes he is very stiff in the morning. There are times when he is not sure whether he is seeing a serious problem or just a glitch. Pretending you are a five-person team at this company, your job is to evaluate two alternative approaches to redesigning Eddie’s job using theories presented in the chapter.

Answer the following questions as a team. Your team should be prepared to present its recommendations to the class as a whole.

Discussion Questions

For this particular job, which is the best model to use in a redesign effort? Why?

Does your team need any additional information before it begins to redesign Eddie’s job? If so, what information do you need?

Using the model you chose in Question 1, what would your team specifically recommend to redesign Eddie’s job?

How, if any, could any international perspectives on the design of work be applied?