Recipe for Sucess

Recipe for Success

American firms that utilize specialized job designs reap many benefits as well as downfalls. For example, workers become more proficient when performing small, simple tasks in which they are assigned, because they do not have the distractions of performing many different tasks at any given time. Employees are able to concentrate on accomplishing a specific task without having to stop one task in order to start another thus the time between performing each task is decreased. Another benefit is being able to develop more specialized equipment to aid in accomplishing a task when said task is more narrowly defined. Being able to train new employees in highly specialized jobs, due to reassignment and absenteeism, keeps training costs moderately low (Griffin, 2008, p.159-160).

There are disadvantages when it comes to utilizing a specialized job designs well. Employees become dissatisfied or bored with the jobs they perform are cause for much criticism. The task being performed may be so specialized it offers no challenges or stimulation for employees. Absenteeism rises, and the quality of work being performed may suffer once the monotony of the task sets in.

Benefits that Japanese firms would experience by using broadly defined jobs are that all employees would be trained to do every job. With every employee being trained to perform 15 to 20 different tasks a product would not have to be moved to different work stations to be completed. The Japanese also utilize automation, robotics, and better reporting relationships, reducing labor usage (Griffin, p. 185). Friendly interactions and spending time socializing outside of work between supervisors and employees is a way NUMMI utilizes building strong personal relationships across workers. The disadvantages of these types of broadly defined jobs are that to train everyone on every job causes an increase in cost. Unions also argue that pay should increase due to the number of tasks the employees are...