Designing work that works in the contemporary world: Future directions for job design research

Abstract

Much research shows that good work design has positive outcomes for individuals and organisations. After a brief review of two popular work design perspectives (designing motivating work; designing safe and healthy work), the primary goal of this chapter is to identify some important future research directions. This chapter highlights key areas that need more attention from researchers and practitioners: putting work design into context to consider the effects of rapid changes currently occurring in the workplace and the workforce; identifying the value of work design from a longer term and more strategic perspectives; paying more attention to employee-initiated forms of work design; giving greater attention to why poor work design continues; and investigating the effects of culture on work design and cross-cultural research on work design. This chapter concludes by advocating the collaboration of researchers and practitioners to take up the challenge of work design to achieve decent jobs for all.