Employee reactions to job characteristics

Abstract

Developed and tested a conceptual framework specifying the conditions under which jobs will facilitate the development of internal motivation for effective performance. Ss were 62 supervisors and 208 telephone company employees who worked on 13 different jobs. Primary independent variables were (a) a measure of strength of desire for the satisfaction of higher order needs (e.g., obtaining feelings of accomplishment, personal growth); and (b) descriptions of jobs on 4 core dimensions (variety, autonomy, task identity, feedback). It was predicted and found that when jobs are high on the 4 core dimensions, employees who are desirous of higher order need satisfaction tend to have high motivation, have high job satisfaction, be absent from work infrequently, and be rated by supervisors as doing high quality work. A number of supplementary analyses are reported. (48 ref.) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)