How to design jobs to enhance satisfaction and motivation: Job Characteristics Model

Notes on the Job Characteristics Model 

Prepared by Debra J. Louis, PhD 

Trident University International 

This model provides insight into how one can design jobs so that the job itself is motivating.

In order to do this, the manager must first understand the core characteristics of jobs. They

are depicted in the slide below and defined in the text below the slide. The developers of

this model, Hackman & Oldman, recommend analyzing a job based on the degree to which

it possesses these core characteristics and then improving the design on a characteristic-

by-characteristic basis. Enriching skill variety, task identity, and task significance while

providing autonomy and knowledge of the results of the work boosts three critical

psychological states (meaningfulness, responsibility, and knowledge of results) which then

produce improved work outcomes, including satisfaction and motivation. 

However, the manager must take into account the personality differences between

employees. People with a high need for growth, learning, and accomplishment tend to

respond favorably to jobs that have been enriched by using this model, but this is not

necessarily true for people with low growth needs. 

Job Characteristics 

Skill variety: The ability to use several different skills in one's job 

Task Identity: The degree to which a job involves the completion of an entire piece of work -

from start to finish 

Task significance: job has a perceivable impact on the lives of other people 

Autonomy: job holder has freedom, independence and discretion in scheduling work and

deciding how the work will be done 

Feedback: in carrying out the job, the person gets information about his/her effectiveness 

Experienced Psychological States (these are affected by core job dimensions): 

Experienced meaningfulness of work is affected by skill variety, task identity, task

significance. 

Experienced responsibility for work outcomes is affected by task autonomy. 

Knowledge of results is affected by feedback. 

Work Outcomes (these are affected by experienced psychological states): 

High work motivation 

High satisfaction 

Low turnover 

Low absenteeism 

Growth need strength 

A personality characteristic that refers to the degree to which a person wants to have

opportunities for self-direction, learning, and personal accomplishment.