What is job enrichment and job rotation?

On the other hand, the latter refers to adding certain stimulators to the job so as to make it rewarding. A job is said to be enriched when the incumbent has the power to make decisions and plans.

Just take a read of this article to know the basic differences between job enlargement and job enrichment.

Content: Job Enlargement Vs Job Enrichment

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Definition of Job Enlargement

Job Enlargement means to increase the tasks of an employee performed by him in a single job. It is an attempt of management to decrease the monotony of the repetitive task. Under this technique, few tasks are added to the existing job which is similar in nature.

Graphical Representation of Job Enlargement

In this way, variety in the job is added, and it will become more interesting for the job holders. There are some advantages of job enlargement which are indicated below:

• It increases the degree of satisfaction in workers because when the job is enlarged, one employee is assigned the whole or the maximum part of the project. In this way, their contribution to that particular project is appreciated.
• In job enlargement, both the physical and mental abilities of a worker are utilized. However, the jobs should be enlarged to a limited extent, i.e. up to the capacity of the employee. It should not create pressure and frustration in an employee.
• It increases the task variety that reduces boredom in performing the job.

With the introduction of a new task in the same job, workers may require additional training to perform the task. It may also happen that the worker productivity will fall after the implementation of new system. Further, the employee may demand increment in their pay for the increase in their workload.

Definition of Job Enrichment

Job Enrichment is a job design strategy, applied to motivate the employees by delegating them extra responsibilities to make it more rewarding. In short, we can say that job enrichment means to upgrade the quality of a job and to make it more exciting, challenging and creative.

Graphical Representation of Job Enrichment

The job holder is given responsibilities and power to plan, control and make important decisions. The requirement of supervision will now be less or it can also be said that the worker himself will perform the tasks of a supervisor.

The concept of job enrichment was first proposed by an American psychologist Fredrick Herzberg in 1968. The salient features of job enrichment are discussed with the help of the following figure:

Features of Job Enrichment

Job Enrichment helps to improve the efficiency of the worker along with raising their level of satisfaction. There are more responsibilities, diversity of tasks, autonomy and growth possibilities in an enriched job as compared to a normal job.

The major differences between job enlargement and job enrichment are mentioned as under:

1. A job design strategy in which the number of tasks performed by a single job is increased is known as Job Enlargement. Job Enrichment is defined as a motivational tool, used by the management in which the range of activities performed by a single job is increased to make it better than before.
2. Job Enlargement involves quantitatively extending the scope of activities carried out by the job whereas in Job Enrichment improvements are made in the existing job to increase its quality.
3. Job Enlargement reduces boredom and monotony while performing a single task, on and on. Conversely, Job Enrichment makes the job more challenging, exciting as well as creative.
4. Job Enlargement does not require additional skills but job enrichment does.
5. In job enlargement, the expansion of tasks is made horizontally, i.e. at the same level. On the other hand, job enrichment involves vertical expansion of activities like controlling and doing the task.
6. Job enlargement requires more supervision as compared to job enrichment.
7. The consequence of introducing job enlargement is not always positive, but job enrichment will produce positive outcomes.
8. Job Enlargement makes employees feel more responsible and valuable, while Job Enrichment brings satisfaction and efficiency in employees.

Conclusion

Both job enlargement and job enrichment are regarded as motivational tools for the employees, used by the management. However, employees find job enrichment is a far better tool than job enlargement. Job Enrichment gives planning, controlling and decision-making powers to the job holder. It helps them to grow and develop. As opposed to job enlargement, which is just a tactic of management to increase the workload of existing employees. The job holders feel satisfied that his tasks have been extended, without knowing that his role and responsibilities are increased.

Learning outcome

• Describe the job characteristics that affect motivation.

When we covered organizational structure, you learned that the way characteristics of a job are organized can act to increase or decrease effort (job characteristics model). Building on that model, you will learn how job rotation, job enlargement, and job enrichment can have a major impact on motivation.

Job Rotation

McDonald’s uses job rotation to keep employees engaged

Job rotation involves periodically shifting an employee from one task or job to another in an effort to decrease boredom. By cross-training employees, companies have also found reductions in repetitive motion injuries and turnover. Lincoln Electric, a manufacturer of welding and cutting parts company, regularly cross-trains all its employees, including salaried management, to weld and operate production machines. This cross-training effort has helped minimize layoffs during downturns and increased job satisfaction.

McDonald’s, the fast food restaurant, uses job rotation. According to a manager in McDonald’s Hong Kong locations, the young staff wants flexible working hours and is easily bored. But McDonald’s job rotation policy makes workers feel like they can learn something new every day.

Job Enlargement

Expanding jobs horizontally by increasing the number and variety of tasks that an individual performs is known as job enlargement. It seeks to motivate workers through reversing specialization. For example, replacing an assembly line with modular work gives each worker more variety and responsibility. Audi, for instance, is experimenting with modular assembly for its cars.

Although some employees may welcome the opportunity to take on more work, a 1993 study had mixed results. The study looked at job enlargement efforts among clerical staff and managers in the financial services industry. For most employees, the extra work resulted in less satisfaction and efficiency, and stressful overload and errors.

Job Enrichment

Job enrichment refers to the vertical expansion of jobs. It increases the degree to which an employee also controls the planning and evaluation of the work that she executes. An enriched job increases the employee’s independence and responsibility. It also provides feedback, making it possible for employees to evaluate and improve their own performance.

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