Work Characteristics

Work Characteristics (hereinafter, the Lectio) is the second lesson part of the Nature of Work lesson that introduces its participants to work characteristics and related topics.

WorldOpp Pipeline

This lesson belongs to the Introduction to Employment session of the CNM Cyber Orientation. The Orientation is the second stage of the WorldOpp Pipeline.

Content

The predecessor lectio is Core Occupations.

Key terms

Work characteristic.

• Job task.
• Tool.
• Work activity.
• Work context.
• Occupational interest.
• Work style.
• Work value.

Script

Work can vary greatly even within the same occupation. For instance, two accountants who work for the same company would work on various job tasks, using different computing devices, being paid different amounts, and working from different locations. Let say, one may work in the office and another may work remotely. Work characteristics attempt to describe the employee side of employment called work.

Work characteristics reflect the work motivation model. Employee compensation is one group of the characteristics. Another group is the work-life fit; these characteristics characterize how employment fits the employee's life.

The biggest group of the characteristics are related to the job itself. Job characteristics include types of job tasks, work activities, work demands, work contexts, work styles, work values, available tools and other work resources such as computing devices and job descriptions. The Holland Occupational Themes address occupational interests; the Job characteristics model attempts to describe the job characteristics at the greatest details.

The work arrangements are often in the intersection of the job characteristics and work-life fit.

Work Arrangements is the successor lectio.

Quiz

Every statement below is split into one true and one false question in the actual exam.

"Environment" questions

1. Work environments and outcomes are (not) similar in various occupations.
2. Work structure refers (or does not refer) to a set of structural job characteristics with which the worker interacts.

"Error" questions

1. In one's job, consequence of error refers (or does not refer) to seriousness of the consequences of a mistake that cannot be corrected.
2. In one's job, consequence of error refers (or does not refer) to how automated the job is.
3. In one's job, consequence of error refers (or does not refer) to how much the job offers decision making freedom and work under little-to-no supervision.
4. In one's job, consequence of error refers (or does not refer) to how frequently the worker is required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization.
5. In one's job, consequence of error refers (or does not refer) to the effect of the worker's decisions on co-workers and/or organizational results.
6. In one's job, consequence of error refers (or does not refer) to the importance of being very exact or highly accurate in performing the job.
7. In one's job, consequence of error refers (or does not refer) to the extent this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures.
8. Consequence of error (or does not assume) the worker determining his or her tasks, priorities, and goals.
9. In one's job, consequence of error refers (or does not refer) to the frequency of meeting strict deadlines.
10. Consequence of error refers (or does not refer) to the degree to which work is done remotely rather than at some specific physical location.
11. Employees should (not) avoid mistakes at all costs.
12. Consequence of error is (not) a structural job characteristic.

"Automation" questions

1. In one's job, degree of automation refers (or does not refer) to seriousness of the consequences of a mistake that cannot be corrected.
2. In one's job, degree of automation refers (or does not refer) to how automated the job is.
3. In one's job, degree of automation refers (or does not refer) to how much the job offers decision making freedom and work under little-to-no supervision.
4. In one's job, degree of automation refers (or does not refer) to how frequently the worker is required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization.
5. In one's job, degree of automation refers (or does not refer) to the effect of the worker's decisions on co-workers and/or organizational results.
6. In one's job, degree of automation refers (or does not refer) to the importance of being very exact or highly accurate in performing the job.
7. In one's job, degree of automation refers (or does not refer) to the extent this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures.
8. Degree of automation (or does not assume) the worker determining his or her tasks, priorities, and goals.
9. In one's job, degree of automation refers (or does not refer) to the frequency of meeting strict deadlines.
10. Degree of automation refers (or does not refer) to the degree to which work is done remotely rather than at some specific physical location.
11. Degree of automation is (not) a structural job characteristic.

"Fit" questions

1. In one's job, duration of typical workweek refers to number of hours typically worked in one week.
2. Duration of typical workweek is (not) a structural job characteristic.
3. Work schedule is (not) a structural job characteristic.

"Pressure" questions

1. In one's job, time pressure refers (or does not refer) to the frequency of meeting strict deadlines.
2. Time pressure is (not) a structural job characteristic.

"Freedom" questions

1. In one's job, freedom to make decisions refers (or does not refer) to seriousness of the consequences of a mistake that cannot be corrected.
2. In one's job, freedom to make decisions refers (or does not refer) to how automated the job is.
3. In one's job, freedom to make decisions refers (or does not refer) to how much the job offers decision making freedom and work under little-to-no supervision.
4. In one's job, freedom to make decisions refers (or does not refer) to how frequently the worker is required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization.
5. In one's job, freedom to make decisions refers (or does not refer) to the effect of the worker's decisions on co-workers and/or organizational results.
6. In one's job, freedom to make decisions refers (or does not refer) to the importance of being very exact or highly accurate in performing the job.
7. In one's job, freedom to make decisions refers (or does not refer) to the extent this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures.
8. Freedom to make decisions (or does not assume) the worker determining his or her tasks, priorities, and goals.
9. In one's job, freedom to make decisions refers (or does not refer) to the frequency of meeting strict deadlines.
10. Freedom to make decisions refers (or does not refer) to the degree to which work is done remotely rather than at some specific physical location.
11. Freedom to make decisions is (not) a structural job characteristic.

"Frequency" questions

1. In one's job, frequency of decision making refers (or does not refer) to seriousness of the consequences of a mistake that cannot be corrected.
2. In one's job, frequency of decision making refers (or does not refer) to how automated the job is.
3. In one's job, frequency of decision making refers (or does not refer) to how much the job offers decision making freedom and work under little-to-no supervision.
4. In one's job, frequency of decision making refers (or does not refer) to how frequently the worker is required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization.
5. In one's job, frequency of decision making refers (or does not refer) to the effect of the worker's decisions on co-workers and/or organizational results.
6. In one's job, frequency of decision making refers (or does not refer) to the importance of being very exact or highly accurate in performing the job.
7. In one's job, frequency of decision making refers (or does not refer) to the extent this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures.
8. Frequency of decision making (or does not assume) the worker determining his or her tasks, priorities, and goals.
9. In one's job, frequency of decision making refers (or does not refer) to the frequency of meeting strict deadlines.
10. Frequency of decision making refers (or does not refer) to the degree to which work is done remotely rather than at some specific physical location.
11. Frequency of decision making is (not) a structural job characteristic.

"Impact" questions

1. In one's job, impact of decisions refers (or does not refer) to seriousness of the consequences of a mistake that cannot be corrected.
2. In one's job, impact of decisions refers (or does not refer) to how automated the job is.
3. In one's job, impact of decisions refers (or does not refer) to how much the job offers decision making freedom and work under little-to-no supervision.
4. In one's job, impact of decisions refers (or does not refer) to how frequently the worker is required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization.
5. In one's job, impact of decisions refers (or does not refer) to the effect of the worker's decisions on co-workers and/or organizational results.
6. In one's job, impact of decisions refers (or does not refer) to the importance of being very exact or highly accurate in performing the job.
7. In one's job, impact of decisions refers (or does not refer) to the extent this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures.
8. Impact of decisions (or does not assume) the worker determining his or her tasks, priorities, and goals.
9. In one's job, impact of decisions refers (or does not refer) to the frequency of meeting strict deadlines.
10. Impact of decisions refers (or does not refer) to the degree to which work is done remotely rather than at some specific physical location.
11. Impact of decisions is (not) a structural job characteristic.

"Exact" questions

1. In one's job, importance of being exact or accurate refers (or does not refer) to seriousness of the consequences of a mistake that cannot be corrected.
2. In one's job, importance of being exact or accurate refers (or does not refer) to how automated the job is.
3. In one's job, importance of being exact or accurate refers (or does not refer) to how much the job offers decision making freedom and work under little-to-no supervision.
4. In one's job, importance of being exact or accurate refers (or does not refer) to how frequently the worker is required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization.
5. In one's job, importance of being exact or accurate refers (or does not refer) to the effect of the worker's decisions on co-workers and/or organizational results.
6. In one's job, importance of being exact or accurate refers (or does not refer) to the importance of being very exact or highly accurate in performing the job.
7. In one's job, importance of being exact or accurate refers (or does not refer) to the extent this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures.
8. Importance of being exact or accurate (or does not assume) the worker determining his or her tasks, priorities, and goals.
9. In one's job, importance of being exact or accurate refers (or does not refer) to the frequency of meeting strict deadlines.
10. Importance of being exact or accurate refers (or does not refer) to the degree to which work is done remotely rather than at some specific physical location.
11. Importance of being exact or accurate is (not) a structural job characteristic.
12. Employees should (not) be highly accurate and detail oriented.

"Repeating" questions

1. In one's job, importance of repeating same tasks refers (or does not refer) to the importance of repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job.
2. Importance of repeating same tasks is (not) a structural job characteristic.

"Competition" questions

1. In one's job, level of competition refers (or does not refer) to seriousness of the consequences of a mistake that cannot be corrected.
2. In one's job, level of competition refers (or does not refer) to how automated the job is.
3. In one's job, level of competition refers (or does not refer) to how much the job offers decision making freedom and work under little-to-no supervision.
4. In one's job, level of competition refers (or does not refer) to how frequently the worker is required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization.
5. In one's job, level of competition refers (or does not refer) to the effect of the worker's decisions on co-workers and/or organizational results.
6. In one's job, level of competition refers (or does not refer) to the importance of being very exact or highly accurate in performing the job.
7. In one's job, level of competition refers (or does not refer) to the extent this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures.
8. Level of competition (or does not assume) the worker determining his or her tasks, priorities, and goals.
9. In one's job, level of competition refers (or does not refer) to the frequency of meeting strict deadlines.
10. Level of competition refers (or does not refer) to the degree to which work is done remotely rather than at some specific physical location.
11. Level of competition is (not) a structural job characteristic.

"Unstructured" questions

1. Structured versus unstructured work refers (or does not refer) to the difference between little-to-no and comprehensive instructions for the worker to perform his or her job.
2. In one's job, structured work refers (or does not refer) to seriousness of the consequences of a mistake that cannot be corrected.
3. In one's job, structured work refers (or does not refer) to how automated the job is.
4. In one's job, structured work refers (or does not refer) to how much the job offers decision making freedom and work under little-to-no supervision.
5. In one's job, structured work refers (or does not refer) to how frequently the worker is required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization.
6. In one's job, structured work refers (or does not refer) to the effect of the worker's decisions on co-workers and/or organizational results.
7. In one's job, structured work refers (or does not refer) to the importance of being very exact or highly accurate in performing the job.
8. In one's job, structured work refers (or does not refer) to the extent this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures.
9. Structured work (or does not assume) the worker determining his or her tasks, priorities, and goals.
10. In one's job, structured work refers (or does not refer) to the frequency of meeting strict deadlines.
11. Structured work refers (or does not refer) to the degree to which work is done remotely rather than at some specific physical location.
12. Structured work is (not) a structural job characteristic.
13. In one's job, unstructured work refers (or does not refer) to seriousness of the consequences of a mistake that cannot be corrected.
14. In one's job, unstructured work refers (or does not refer) to how automated the job is.
15. In one's job, unstructured work refers (or does not refer) to how much the job offers decision making freedom and work under little-to-no supervision.
16. In one's job, unstructured work refers (or does not refer) to how frequently the worker is required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization.
17. In one's job, unstructured work refers (or does not refer) to the effect of the worker's decisions on co-workers and/or organizational results.
18. In one's job, unstructured work refers (or does not refer) to the importance of being very exact or highly accurate in performing the job.
19. In one's job, unstructured work refers (or does not refer) to the extent this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures.
20. Unstructured work (or does not assume) the worker determining his or her tasks, priorities, and goals.
21. In one's job, unstructured work refers (or does not refer) to the frequency of meeting strict deadlines.
22. Unstructured work refers (or does not refer) to the degree to which work is done remotely rather than at some specific physical location.
23. Unstructured work is (not) a structural job characteristic.

"Virtualization" questions

1. In one's job, work virtualization refers (or does not refer) to seriousness of the consequences of a mistake that cannot be corrected.
2. In one's job, work virtualization refers (or does not refer) to how automated the job is.
3. In one's job, work virtualization refers (or does not refer) to how much the job offers decision making freedom and work under little-to-no supervision.
4. In one's job, work virtualization refers (or does not refer) to how frequently the worker is required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization.
5. In one's job, work virtualization refers (or does not refer) to the effect of the worker's decisions on co-workers and/or organizational results.
6. In one's job, work virtualization refers (or does not refer) to the importance of being very exact or highly accurate in performing the job.
7. In one's job, work virtualization refers (or does not refer) to the extent this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures.
8. Work virtualization (or does not assume) the worker determining his or her tasks, priorities, and goals.
9. In one's job, work virtualization refers (or does not refer) to the frequency of meeting strict deadlines.
10. Work virtualization refers (or does not refer) to the degree to which work is done remotely rather than at some specific physical location.
11. Work virtualization is (not) a structural job characteristic.