6.3.2

(2024 EXAMS ONLY) Hackman & Oldham's Model

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Hackman and Oldham's Job Characteristics Model

An employer can also use Hackman and Oldham’s model of job design to support the job design process. Hackman and Oldham state that there are five core characteristics of a job which motivates employees:

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Skill variety

  • Hackman and Oldham’s first core characteristic of a job which motivates is skill variety.
    • Skill variety refers to employees being given opportunities to use a range of skills as part of their normal duties and responsibilities.
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Task identity

  • Hackman and Oldham’s second core characteristic of a job which motivates is task identity.
    • Task identity refers to employees being given a sense of conclusion or completion, for example closing an outstanding case or handing their completed work over to a manager.
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Task significance

  • Hackman and Oldham’s third core characteristic of a job which motivates is task significance.
    • Task significance refers to employees feeling as though their duties and responsibilities contribute to the overall business success.
  • Hackman and Oldham state that jobs which offer skill variety, task identity, and task significance will allow employees to experience meaningfulness of work, which will result in high motivation.
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Autonomy

  • Hackman and Oldham’s fourth core characteristic of a job which motivates is autonomy.
    • Autonomy refers to employees having some independence within their duties and responsibilities.
  • Hackman and Oldham state that jobs which offer autonomy will allow employees to take responsibility for outcomes which will result in high job satisfaction.
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Feedback

  • Hackman and Oldham’s fifth core characteristic of a job which motivates is feedback.
    • Feedback refers to employees receiving feedback, whether oral, written or verbal, on the work they have completed.
  • Hackman and Oldham state that jobs which offer feedback will allow employees to develop knowledge of their own results which will result in lower absenteeism and lower turnover.

Jump to other topics

1What is Business?

2Managers, Leadership & Decision Making

3Decision Making to Improve Marketing Performance

4Decision Making to Improve Operational Performance

5Decision Making to Improve Financial Performance

6Improving Human Resource Performance

7Analysing the Strategic Position of a Business

8Choosing Strategic Direction

9How to Pursue Strategies

10Managing Strategic Change

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