Experiencing Organizational Work Design: Beyond Hackman and Oldham

Abstract

Standard organizational behavior survey courses usually introduce students to the “nuts and bolts” of organizational work design and models that mechanize work. This article develops an experiential exercise that simulates working conditions that can foster greater student understanding of the affective, ethical, and human aspects of work design. The exercise also offers a historical representation of work, helping students understand modern organizational interdependencies. We offer a description of the exercise and how it is run; debrief questions and typical student responses; possible applications, variations, and pitfalls; and ancillary support items including a Web site with materials available for instructor use.

Keywords

job design ethics whole person simulation unions labor work history

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