Job enrichment is dead: long live high-performance work design!
Article Abstract:
Autonomous group working, job rotation, job enlargement, and job enrichment are four high-performance work-design techniques, the first of which may be the most powerful in contributing to employee skill development. Employees in autonomous groups perform a certain overall task, and have discretion over how the work is to be performed. Personnel management techniques such as these are designed to meet corporate social responsibility needs and to address problems such as high absenteeism costs, poor timekeeping, and staff turnover. The experience of computer manufacturer Digital Equipment Corp in addressing quality of work life issues is described in the context of its Ayr (Scotland) plant. The changes enacted at Ayr covered: strategic focus, positive labor policies, 'kit-to-fit' manufacturing (manual assembly with 'stand-alone' automated equipment), work organization, management style, support systems, project management, involvement, and competence.
Publication Name: Personnel Management
Subject: Human resources and labor relations
ISSN: 0031-5761
Year: 1987
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Short-term gains but long-term dangers from exploiting temps
Article Abstract:
Recruitment of temporary employees may provide short-term benefits such as reduction of expenditures, but it may also prove to be counterproductive in the long run. It is predicted that once the economic recession ends, the quality of work of temporaries will eventually taper down. Economic recovery will mean that these temps will demand improved compensation which employment agencies can not provide because they are bound to fixed-price contracts with their clients. Consequently, efficient candidates will refuse to work as temporary employees because other opportunities exist in a recovering economy. Also, the practice of paying a composite charge rate that includes payment for the agency and the employee limits the ability of companies to determine the rate temporaries deserve. A standard rate for agencies is recommended so that a separate system of payment rate for temporaries will be possible.
Publication Name: Personnel Management
Subject: Human resources and labor relations
ISSN: 0031-5761
Year: 1992
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The formation of teams: a British and German comparison
Article Abstract:
A new study compares the introduction of teamwork in a British and German subsidiary of an American car company. The research, which includes surveys and interviews, analyses the form of teamwork with special reference to the relationship between team members and leaders. It is concluded that the teamwork issue is linked to the character of the personnel relations system.
Publication Name: International Journal of Human Resource Management
Subject: Human resources and labor relations
ISSN: 0958-5192
Year: 1998
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