W9 Module 7 Job Design and Work Measurement
W9 Module 7 Job Design and Work Measurement
W9 Module 7 Job Design and Work Measurement
Because of that, there is an improvement of occupational safety and health (OSH) within the
organization. A more healthy, engaged and productive employees could be the result of a well-
designed job and surely will benefit not only employees but the organization as well.
Is there any relevance of job design to the organization? Well, of course the answer is YES.
According to the same source, work activities will have a mental and physical demands on workers
and if the said work activities will be kept to within acceptable levels, performance as well as the
well-being and health will be maintained. Job design principle application should aid in identifying
suitable facilities, machines, furniture and tools that are designed and allocated to be compatible
with the worker’s attributes, strength, inclusive of size, information-processing capacity, aerobic
capacity and expectations. Job design also aims to improve the health of employees by allowing
them more control on the job which lead to reducing the work related stress that may result to
serious problems in health .
When a new job is created or when the job or work is no longer fit to the worker or exceed
the capacity of employee, job design should be occurred within the organizations. Monitoring
procedures in place so as to assess continuously workers’ safety, health and levels of perfor mance
should be done by effective business organizations.
From the same source, the steps to follow in designing a job were given and these are the
following :
1. Assess current work practices.
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2. Analyze tasks
3. Design the job
4. Implement the new job design gradually.
5. Re-evaluate job design on a continuous basis.
Training and development – these are learning experiences that are planed
so as to teach workers on how to have effective performance at present
and in the future. Jobs at present are the focus of training while preparing
employees for possible jobs in the future is the focus of development.
Improving performance in an organization through knowledge and skill
enhancement among employees is the reason why training and
development practices are designed.
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have the aim of helping the organization in establishing and maintaining
loyalty and competency among the workforce at an affordable cost.
According to the same source, by effectively managing the human resources of a firm,
it can gain a competitive advantage over competitors. Competitive advantage refers to the
firm status achievement when gaining a superior marketplace position which is relative to
tis competition. It can be accomplished or achieved by a firm in two ways - through product
differentiation or cost leadership.
1. Cost leadership – in this method, the business which produced at the lower cost
provides the same products or services as its competitors . In this way, the firm
earns a better return on its human resources and capital.
2. Product differentiation – in this method, the business firm produces what buyers
preferred to buy. This aim can be accomplished by:
Labor Planning
How about strategic workforce planning. What is it all about? According to Four
steps of workforce planning. (2018, March 02). Retrieved August 6, 2018, from
https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/engage/news/four-steps-workforce-planning ,
strategic workforce planning refers to how a team or an organization do the analysis of
workforce and determination of steps which should be taken to prepare for future talent
needs. It is a human resource tool for anticipating employment needs and it is critical to
planning staff training, designing the organization structure and developing the team goals
and objectives.
From the same source, the four steps in the workforce planning were given and these
are the following:
1. Analyze the organization’s talent supply
Business managers should to the internal and external talent assessment. The
following questions may be asked in this step:
Does the organization team consist of long-tenured talents who will be
retiring soon and will possible leave significant gaps to the team?
What are the present team strengths and how do they map to our
current needs?
Are the needed talents that the team needs in the current market?
What will it cost the organization in acquiring new talent?
Job Design
What is job design? According to Job Design (n.d.) Retrieved July 20, 2018 from
https://www.cedu.niu.edu/~bailey/ftf564/jobdes.pdf, job design refers to the
specifications of the contents, methods and relationships of jobs so as to satisfy
organizational and technological requirements as well as the personal and social
requirements of the job holder. Its focus is on designing the transformation of inputs into
outputs and considers the human and organizational factors that influence that
transformation.
There are different aspects of job design and from the same source, these a re the
following:
1. Work organization
Re-arrangement or replacement of work (ex. Teaming, work group,
automating, division of labor)
Giving additional tasks/responsibility to the worker (job enlargement)
Job rotation
2. Job structuring
Giving responsibility for different levels/types of work (job enrichment)
Granting over work (autonomy)
Self-organization (time/process management)
3. Location/scheduling
According to the same source, job design changes which should be implemented at
the individual level are the
With optimum variety
Whole task which is meaningful
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Optimum work cycle
Standard and feedback result control
Job preparation and auxiliary tasks
Utilization of valued knowledge, skills and effort
Perceivable contribution to end product
What is ergonomics? According to Ergonomics. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2018, from
https://ehs.unc.edu/workplace-safety/ergonomics/, refers to the study of people in their
working environment. An ergonomist is the one who designs or modifies the work to fit the
worker and not in the other way around. Elimination of discomfort an injury risk due to
work is the goal of ergonomics. In an organization, the first priority in analyzing the
workstation is the employee. The three main characteristics which are actually the
ergonomic stressors namely force required to complete the task, an static or awkward
working postures that are adopted in completing the task and the repetitiveness of the task
should be considered in evaluating a job because any one of these factors or any combination
of these factors may place a worker at a greater risk of discomfort.
Actually, according AIHA Protecting Worker Health. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2018,
from https://www.aiha.org/about-ih/Pages/an-ergonomics-approach-to-avoiding-office-
workplace-injuries-and-illnesses.aspx , the main goal of ergonomics is to design the
workplace so that it will accommodate the variety of human capabilities and limitations so
as to prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Measures such as administrative controls
– employee rotation or training, as well as changes to work practices are often more
feasible initially when designing ergonomic hazards out of the workplace. Ergonomics
application to the work place will aid both employees and employer to strike a proper
balance between staff capabilities and work requirements which will lessen the MSDs
among the members of the business organization.
Methods Analysis
What is a visual workplace? According to The Visual Workplace. (2018, February 13).
Retrieved August 6, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Visual_Workplace, a
visual workplace refers to a continuous improvement paradigm. Many visuality iterations in
the continuous improvement are integrated and codified in this system. It also refers to a
self-explaining, self-ordering, self improving and self regulating work environment wherein
what should happen , happens – on time, every time, day or night because of visual devices.
A visual workplace which is defined by devices is designed so as to share information
about the operations of organization visually so as to make human and machine
performance more exact, safer, more reliable, more repeatable and more reliable. This is
accomplished parallel with new employee engagement and contribution level generation
which in turn lead to an improved alignment within the enterprise and significant bottom
line benefits. This level of information can be seen and understood without supervision,
need for an explanation or coaching in an effective visual workplace.
Likewise, it was emphasized in the same source that the key principle is to install vital
information visually as close to the point of use as possible, when a methodology is applied ,
it targets the motion – moving without working. It was implemented originally and refined
in manufacturing settings.
Labor Standards
What are labor standards? According to Definition of Terms - Labor and Employment.
(n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2018, from http://nap.psa.gov.ph/ru12/DEFINE/DEF-LABO.HTM
, the minimum requirements prescribed by the existing laws, rules and regulations and other
issuances relating to wages, living allowances and other monetary and welfa re benefits,
occupational health and safety and other standards designed to improve work conditions
are said to be labor standards.
To protect workers and laborers in the Philippines, Labor Code of the Philippines PD
442 was created and amended. According to Labor Code of the Philippines PD 442, As
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Amended(n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2018, from http://www.laborlaw.usc-
law.org/lawsbank/pd-442.htm, the labor code is divided into 6 books namely:
1. Book 1 – Pre-employment
2. Book 2 – Human resource development
3. Book 3 – Conditions of employment
4. Book 4 – Health , Safety and Social Welfare benefits
5. Book 5 – Labor relations
6. Book 6 – Post Employment
The said books have different chapters. And as employee and employees of a business
organization, awareness of the contents of labor code should be considered not only for
themselves but of course for the achievement of the two main objectives – to give satisfaction
to customers and to earn profit wherein employers and employees will benefit from them.
Ethics
What is ethics? According to What is ethics? (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2018, from
http://www.ethics.org.au/about/what-is-ethics, ethics answers how should one live. It
shapes the way an individual lives. Ethics are for all. Being ethical forms a part o f what
defines individuals as human beings. It is choosing from right and wrong. Ethical problems
which are complex ones can be individual and can be widespread and systemic which
involves organizations, groups or whole communities. It provides a framework for
answering questions as well. Ethics allows individuals to be consistent in our judgment ,
provide reasons for beliefs and to examine opinions critically. It also allows individuals to
act in a manner that are compatible with a set of principles and core values.
An individual who belongs to an organization should have the knowledge and apply
work ethics. What is work ethic? According to What is work ethics? (n.d.) Retrieved July 20,
2018 from https://www.squ.edu.om/Portals/107/pdf/9%20-
%20What%20is%20work%20ethics.pdf , work ethics refers to the cultural norm which
advocates being personally responsible and accountable for the work one does and is based
on belief that work has intrinsic value. It is applied usually to characteristics of people both
at work and lay. It is associated with individuals who work hard and do a great job.
Likewise, according to Ethics in the Workplace (n.d.) July 20, 2018 from
http://www.epcc.edu/CareerServices/Presentations/Ethics%20in%20the%20Workplace.
pdf , ethics which refers to the application of moral principles, standards of behavior, or set of
values regarding proper conduct in the workplace as individuals and in a group setting, should be
considered in any workplace and all business organizations should take consideration on the
following:
Respect
Trustworthiness
Fairness
Responsibility
Caring
Communication is the key for relationship between and among the following:
management/supervisors, customers, and colleagues/employees. In the same source, good
workplace ethics , ways on how to encourage good and benefits of good ethics in the
workplace and these are the following:
GOOD WORKPLACE ETHICS
Stay productive
Be accountable of own action
Taking initiative
Be punctual
Stay positive
Take pride in own work
Set good example
Think critically
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3. Human Resource Management and Competitive Advantage (n.d.) Retrieved July
20, 2018 from
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9ce6/70115d23076fc7093d42aad42cbaaf2106
36.pdf
4. P. (2018, April 11). Workforce Planning Is Essential to High-Performing
Organizations. Retrieved July 20, 2018, from
https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/technology/pages/louch-workforce-
planning.aspx
5. Four steps of workforce planning. (2018, March 02). Retrieved August 6, 2018,
from https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/engage/news/four-steps-workforce-
planning
6. Job Design (n.d.) Retrieved July 20, 2018 from
https://www.cedu.niu.edu/~bailey/ftf564/jobdes.pdf
7. Ergonomics. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2018, from https://ehs.unc.edu/workplace-
safety/ergonomics/
8. AIHA Protecting Worker Health. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2018, from
https://www.aiha.org/about- ih/Pages/an-ergonomics-approach-to-avoiding-office-
workplace-injuries-and- illnesses.aspx
9. Method of Analysis in the Production Management (n.d) Retrieved August 6, 2018
from
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/60dc/81a256101f9d43f867d83eb1ef669e8658
b7.pdf
10. The Visual Workplace. (2018, February 13). Retrieved August 6, 2018, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Visual_Workplace
11. Definition of Terms - Labor and Employment. (n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2018,
from http://nap.psa.gov.ph/ru12/DEFINE/DEF-LABO.HTM
12. Labor Code of the Philippines PD 442, As Amended(n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2018,
from http://www.laborlaw.usc- law.org/lawsbank/pd-442.htm
13. Introduction to International Labour Standards. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2018, from
http://www.ilo.org/global/standards/introduction-to- international- labour-
standards/lang--en/index.htm
14. What is ethics? (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2018, from
http://www.ethics.org.au/about/what- is-ethics
15. V. (2017, May 01). Work Ethics. Retrieved July 20, 2018, from
https://www.iitk.ac.in/new/work-ethics
16. Erskine, M. B. (n.d.). Saint Leo Blog. Retrieved July 20, 2018, from
https://www.saintleo.edu/blog/how-to-develop-a-good-work-ethic- in-5-easy-steps
17. What is work ethics? (n.d.) Retrieved July 20, 2018 from
https://www.squ.edu.om/Portals/107/pdf/9%20-
%20What%20is%20work%20ethics.pdf
18. Ethics in the Workplace (n.d.) July 20, 2018 from
http://www.epcc.edu/CareerServices/Presentations/Ethics%20in%20the%20W
orkplace.pdf
19. Workplace Ethics 101: The Basics (n.d.) Retrieved July 20, 2018 from
http://www.ethicsmonitor.co.za/Articles/064-065-2.pdf
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