Job Design, Work Measurement and Labor Standards

1. Job Design, Work Measurementand Labor Standards Enterprise Excellence Series

2. Outline Job Design Job specialization Job expansion Psychological components Self-directed teams Motivation and incentive systems Ergonomics and work methods Work Measurement Time Studies Work Sampling Labor Standards As the objective of human resources strategy is stated, what do the words �effectively� and �efficiently� mean? How does this relate to workers� need for a reasonable quality of life? What does it say about the employment of people to perform jobs embodying significant risk?As the objective of human resources strategy is stated, what do the words �effectively� and �efficiently� mean? How does this relate to workers� need for a reasonable quality of life? What does it say about the employment of people to perform jobs embodying significant risk?

3. Job Design Specifying the tasks that make up a job for an individual or group Involves determining What is to be done (i.e., responses) How it is to be done (i.e., tools etc.) Why it is to be done (i.e., purpose) Results in job description Shows nature of job in task-related behaviors Students may find it obvious that job design involve �what� is to be done, and �how� it is to be done, but why do we need to know the reason (why) the job is being done? You might also ask students how they believe job descriptions will change in the future. (There are those who argue that job descriptions in the future will be more outcome-, and less task- or behavior-based; and that one will have a greater role in writing his/her job description.) Students may find it obvious that job design involve �what� is to be done, and �how� it is to be done, but why do we need to know the reason (why) the job is being done? You might also ask students how they believe job descriptions will change in the future. (There are those who argue that job descriptions in the future will be more outcome-, and less task- or behavior-based; and that one will have a greater role in writing his/her job description.)

4. Eight Steps to Conducting a Time Study Define the task to be studied (after a methods analysis) Break down the task into precise elements Decide how many times each element of the task must be measured Record the times and ratings of performance for the task elements Compute the average observed cycle time (element times adjusted for unusual influences) It is sometimes helpful to actually walk students through a time study in the classroom. The task does not have to be complex - perhaps as simple as sharpening a pencil. Ask them to consider sources of variance as the task is performed on different pencils by different people. Students should also be asked how one determines the appropriate adjustments for unusual influences.It is sometimes helpful to actually walk students through a time study in the classroom. The task does not have to be complex - perhaps as simple as sharpening a pencil. Ask them to consider sources of variance as the task is performed on different pencils by different people. Students should also be asked how one determines the appropriate adjustments for unusual influences.

5. Work Sampling Labor standard is set using output and % of time worker spends on tasks Involves observing worker at random times over a long period Advantages Less expensive than time studies Observer requires little training Disadvantages Ineffective with short cycles Discussion of this methodology should emphasize its use in service organizations.Discussion of this methodology should emphasize its use in service organizations.

6. Labor Standards - Historical Experience Labor standards are based on how many labor-hours were needed in past Least preferred method Advantages Easy and inexpensive to obtain standard Disadvantages Unknown accuracy due to unusual occurrences, unknown pace etc.