Introduction The concept of Job Enrichment is a very broad theory within the field of organizational behavior that is applicable within all sectors of organization. Used synonymously with “job enlargement”, the term job enrichment refers to different methods that are aimed at increasing employee’s job motivation, satisfaction, self-worth, in an attempt to ultimately increase the overall employee productivity within the organization. Research studies conducted on Job Enrichment and its influence on employee productivity date back to the 1950s and 1960s and throughout those years a wide variety of methods have emerged. Most commonly job enrichment is attributed to the process of job redesign in order to reverse the negative effects monotony of employee tasks, which will include boredom, lack of autonomy and dissatisfaction. Other variances of job enrichment include providing worker incentives by involving the employee in the decision making process, the implementation of quality work groups and team building, and job independence as an incentive to increase productivity. Evolution of the concept of Job Enrichment Beginning in the middle of the 20th century up until present day, the theory of job enrichment has offered many compelling concepts to increase employee productivity while simultaneously enriching the employees work experience, all of which remain applicable today. The early works which established Job enrichment among organizational behavior theorists was Frederick Herzberg’s “Hygiene Theory” and Hackman and Oldham’s “Job Characteristic Model”.
The Hygiene Theory The central figure in developing the theory of job enrichment within the framework of organizational behavior was Frederick Herzberg who’s pivotal “Hygiene Theory” has contributed a solid basis and foundation for subsequent generations to expand upon. According to Herzberg, for a worker to be happy and therefore productive
Cited: Albers Mohrman, Susan, Lawler III, Edward E., Mohrman, Allan M. 1992. “Applying Employee Involvement in Schools.” Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis DeLancer Julnes, Patria. 2001. “Does Participation Increase Perceptions of Usefulness?” Public Performance & Management Review Globerson, Shlomo. 1977. “The Just Noticeable Difference in Complexity of Jobs.” Management Science Griffin, Mark A., Patterson, Malcolm G., and West, Michael A. 2001. “Job Satisfaction and Teamwork: The Role of Supervisor Support” Journal of Organizational Behavior Hobbs, Daniel D. “Productivity Through Worker Incentive and Satisfaction.” Public Productivity Review King, Albert S. 1974. “Expectation Effects in Organizational Change.” Administrative Science Quarterly McNamar, Tim. 1973. “White Collar Job Enrichment: The Pay Board Experience.” Public Administration Review Mitusch, Kay. 2000. “Job Independence as an Incentive Device.” Economica Simonds, Rollin H. and Orife, John N. 1975. “Worker Behavior Versus Enrichment Theory.” Administrative Science Quarterly Staudohar, Paul D. 1975. “An Experiment in Increasing Productivity of Police Service Employees” Public Administration Review