Discussion Questions
1. Describe the major components of work system design.
2. Visit a local business and describe the jobs to be done, the workers needed for the jobs, and how the workers help achieve the objectives of the business.
3. Describe the objectives of job design.
4. Explain why it is hard to design jobs in a business setting.
5. Explain what we mean by technical feasibility, economic feasibility, and behavioral feasibility.
6. Describe cases in which people are preferable to machines.
7. Describe cases in which machines are preferable to people.
8. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of using a high level of job specialization.
9. Describe factors affecting the work environment that must be considered in work systems design.
10. Describe the alternative workplace approach.
11. Create a process flowchart for an activity that you do daily—for example, getting ready for school each day.
12. Analyze a daily activity to see whether you can improve the process.
13. Compare and contrast the four work measurement techniques.
14. Explain the difference between time-based and output-based compensation plans.
15. Explain why it makes sense to use time-based compensation systems.
16. Explain why it makes sense to use an output-based compensation system.
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