Work Design Flashcards
Scope of Human Factors Psychology
Scope of Human Factors Psychology
- originally focused on the design of machinery and other equipment.
- broadened scope to include environmental conditions, training procedures, and work schedules.
- reliance on general systems theory, with emphasis on the person-machine fit
Person-Machine Fit
PERSON-MACHINE FIT
Performance is the result of an interaction between people and machines (or any other non-human element)
failure in performance is due to a person-machine mismatch.
Goals of human factors psychology
Goals of Human Factors Psychology
- ensure that workers fit the job through effective selection and training
- that the job fits the capabilitites and limitations of the workers through the design of tasks, equipment, the environment, and other aspects of work.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991
ADA 1991
- several laws reference person-machine fit
- NOT disabilities: transvestism, exhibitionism, gender identity disorder, compulsive gambling, kleptomania, and psychoactive substance use disorders resulting from current illegal drug use!
- employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilitites who can perform the essential functions of the job as long as doing so does not result in undue hardship for the employer.
- reasonable accommodations may include: making existing facilities accessible to and usable by people with disabilities, acquiring or modifying equipment, restructuring the job, altering the work schedule, and modifying selection techniques and training materials.
- all pre-employment procedures be directly related to job requirements and it prohibits requiring medical exam prior to making an offer.
- medical exams: only after an offer is made, must be job related and required of all applicants applying for same job, not just disabled person.
- drug testing: exception to the rule, not considered a medical exam
Work Schedules
WORK SCHEDULES
- variations to the 40/8 work schedule include
- compressed workweek
- flextime
- shiftwork
Compressed Work Week
COMPRESSED WORK WEEK
decreases the number of days worked in a given work cycle by increasing the hours worked per day.
- positive effects on supervisor ratings of: employee performance, employee overall job satisfaction, and employee satisfaction with the work schedule, with the best effect on worker attitude!
- However, does not impact: job performance or on absenteeism.
- at least inconsistant results with some studies indicating that the compressed workweek is associated with reduced absenteeism.
Flextime
gives employees a choice of when to begin and end work while providing a core time when all workers must be present.
- research indicates: positive effects on employee productivity, overall job satisfaction, satisfaction with the work schedule, and absenteeism, but NOT have a strong impact on self-rated performance.
- workers are less stressed when they have control over their work schedules.
- also decreased work-family conflict
Shiftwork
SHIFT WORK
Companies that operate 24 hours a day divide into 3 work shifts: regular, swing and graveyard.
- some permanently assign workers to one shift but others rotate to other shifts.
- fixed shifts are preferred to rotating shifts due to disruption of circadian rhythms, increased fatigue and sleepiness and lowers concentration, and increases errors.
- forward rotation is better than backwards rotations, Barton studied nurses.
- Swing shift has the most negative impact on family roles and social activities.
- Graveyard shift is associated with the most social, health and work related problems that are attributable, in part, to sleep deprivation.
- freedom of choice is best: employees who choose to work the night shift report fewer physical and psychological problems than those who are assigned to that shift.
