What is Job Enlargement?
Job enlargement involves expanding an employee's responsibilities within the same job, increasing the tasks performed without changing the job's nature.
Definition
Job Enlargement is a strategy designed to increase job satisfaction and reduce monotony by broadening the scope of an employee's role. It differs from job enrichment, which adds complexity and responsibility. Enlargement focuses on adding more tasks of a similar nature.
This approach aims to combat boredom and provide employees with a greater understanding of the overall workflow. It may lead to increased efficiency and a more versatile workforce, though it may not inherently increase motivation if not implemented thoughtfully.
Impact on the organization
Job Enlargement impacts organizations by potentially increasing employee engagement and reducing turnover. By offering a wider variety of tasks, organizations can enhance workforce flexibility and improve overall operational efficiency.
This strategy can also provide opportunities for skills development and cross-training within teams.
Key takeways for Job Enlargement
- Identify tasks that can be added without requiring significant skill upgrades.
- Ensure the added tasks are related and contribute to the same overall goal.
- Communicate clearly the purpose of Job Enlargement to employees.
- Provide necessary training to support the expanded responsibilities.
Curated related readings
Synonyms for Job Enlargement : Horizontal job loading; Task expansion; Job broadening;