Job characteristics free essay sample

The five core job characteristics are: â€Å"skill variety† (i.e., the perceived variety and complexity of skills and talents required to perform the job); â€Å" task Identity† (i.e., the extent the job is seen as involving a whole, identifiable task); â€Å"task significance† (i.e., the extent that the job affects the well being of others); â€Å"autonomy† (i.e., the extent the job is seen as allowing for personal initiative in performing the work); and â€Å"feedback from the job† (i.e., the extent that the job, itself, provides information about job performance). The JCM posits that the way jobs are perceived in terms of these five core job characteristics impact three particular psychological reactions to the job. These reactions, referred to as â€Å"critical psychological states†, include â€Å"experienced meaningfulness of work† (i.e., the extent that the work is seen as making a difference to others), â€Å"felt responsibility† (i.e., the extent that the worker assumes responsibility for his/her work), and â€Å"knowledge of results† (i. We will write a custom essay sample on Job characteristics or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page e., the extent to which the worker is aware of the quality of his/her work). Jobs seen as high in the five core job features  (e.g., high in autonomy) are expected to be seen as more meaningful by workers, are expected to engender greater feelings of responsibility on the part of workers, and are expected to provide clear cues to workers about the quality of work. Finally, critical psychological states are expected to explain variability in five specific work outcomes which include: general job satisfaction, perceived job performance, internal work motivation (i.e., the extent that the worker is motivated by doing good work), satisfaction with growth (i.e., the extent that the worker is satisfied with the opportunity to learn new things on the job); and thoughts of quitting. In addition, the linkages shown in the model (Figure 1) are expected to be moderated by â€Å"growth need strength†. In other words, the linkages are expected to be significantly stronger for those individuals who are highly motivated to learn and grow on the job.