Year: 1976
Type: article
Abstract: Recent r e s e a r c h h a s shown t h a t job enrichment, t h e concept o f developing m o t i v a t i o n a l c o n t e n t i n t o jobs, has been a p p l i e d s u c c e s s f u l l y i n an i n c r e a s i n g number o f organizat i o n s .However, t h e v a r i o u s job enrichment techniques need f u r t h e r development .Recent s t u d i e s have c o n c e n t r a t e d on t h e phases which 3ead t o t h e implementation of job enrichment programs.T h i s s t u d y i s a f u r t h e r c o n t r i b u t i o n towards improving t h e s e phases.I t focuses on t h e i d e a g e n e r a t i o n and i d e a e v a l u a t i o n phases and i n c l u d e s t h e part i c i p a t i o n of t h e workers themselves.The technique employed i s t h e Delphi method.I t i s used t o e l i c i t t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s ' s u g g e s t i o n s on how t h e i r jobs may b e improved.T h e r e a f t e r , two Delphi rounds a r e used t o e v a l u a t e t h e s u g g e s t i o n s and t o b u i l d a consensus on t h e v a l u e of each s u g g e s t i o n .The s t u d y i n c l u d e s t h e n a t i o n a l s a l e s f o r c e of one of Canada' s l a r g e s t meat packing companies.The e f f e c t i v e n e s s of t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n was measured by t h e amount of consensus formed, changed a t t i t u d e s , a c t u a l measures of t h e p a r ti c i p a n t ' s e f f e c t i v e n e s s on t h e job and t h e i r r e a c t i o n s t o t h e p r o j e c t a s o b t a i n e d through q u e s t i o n n a i r e s .The r e s e a r c h demonstrated t h a t t h e Delphi method i s s u i t a b l e f o r t h e g e n e r a t i o n and e v a l u a t i o n of i d e a s .However, t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s ' choice of i d e a s confirmed p r i o r c o n t e n t i o n s t h a t employees p r i m a r i l y c o n t r i b u t e i d e a s which a r e hygiene f a c t o r s r a t h e r than m o t i v a t i n g i d e a s .The s t u d y a l s o confirmed p r i o r r e s e a r c h which i n d i c a t e d t h a t p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n a job enrichment p r o j e c t by i t s e l f does n o t change a t t it u d e s o r t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s of t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s .Being l i m i t e d t o t h e i d e a g e n e r a t i o n and i d e a e v a l u a t i o n phases, t h e s t u d y was o n l y a p a r t i a l a n a l y s i s of a Job Improvement p r o j e c t .Hence, f i n a l e v a l u a t i o n a w a i t s t h e complete implementation of t h e program.N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e consensus produced by t h e s u c c e s s i v e r a t i n g s of t h e sugg e s t i o n s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e Delphi technique may be a usef u l p r o c e s s .I n a d d i t i o n , t h e Delphi method was shown t o have t h e p o t e n t i a l a s an inexpensive technique f o r t h e gene r a t i o n and communication of i d e a s i n a b u s i n e s s organizat i o n .
Source: Summit (Simon Fraser University)
Author: George Sigmund Merchant
Language: English
Topic: Delphi Technique in Research
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W164257860