Differentiate between the following:
(a) Job enrichment and Job enlargement ~ Vivek Economics
ANSWER
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.
Comparison Chart
| BASIS FOR COMPARISON | JOB ENLARGEMENT | JOB ENRICHMENT |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | A technique of job design in which the task related to a single job are increased is known as job enlargement. | A management tool used to motivate employees, by adding responsibilities in the job is known as Job Enrichment. |
| Concept | Quantitatively expanding the scope of a job. | Qualitatively extending the range of activities performed by a job. |
| Objective | To decreases the boredom in performing a redundant task. | To make the job more challenging, interesting and creative. |
| Outcome | May or may not be positive | The result of job enrichment is always positive. |
| Requirement of additional skills | No | Yes |
| Expansion | Horizontal | Vertical |
| Supervision | More | Comparatively less |
Differentiate between the following: (a) Job enrichment and Job enlargement ~ Vivek Economics
Comments