Question

1. Define formal and informal communication and state how people communicate formally or informally.

2.Distinguish among job enlargement, job enrichment, and job characteristics model as techniques to motivating employees. Please explain thoroughly these techniques and provide examples.

Answer 1

Ans1 Formal communication- it follows the predefined path of communication channel. It is controlled and deliberate effort. It’s aim to transfer information to its desired place without any hindrance and in proper way.

Informal communication- it passes in every direction or it moves freely without any predefined channel of communication. It is used for personal and casual purpose. It is uncontrolled form of communication.

People communicate formally according to predefined way of communication. For example employee discuss about some project with their superior.

People communicate formally as they want in very casual manner. For example discussion about holiday place among family members.

Ans2 Some differences between job enlargement and job enrichment are as follows-

1. Job enlargement is horizontal expansion in roles and responsibilities while job enrichment means vertical expansion in roles and responsibilities of an employee.

2. Job enlargement involves quantitatively extending the scope of activities carried out by job while job enrichment means improvement in existing job to increase its quality

3. Job enlargement reduces boredom and monotony while job enrichment not completely reduces monotony.

Job characteristic mode is a theory that is based on the idea that a task in itself is a key factor to employee’s motivation. A boring and monotonous job reduces the employee’s motivation level while challenging job increases the motivation level of employees.

Job characteristic model as techniques to motivating employees’ are-

1. Skill variety- it defines a level to which job requires a variety of different activities. For example- an operator in a garage does electric work for rebuild engines, body work and interact with customers as well.

2. Task identity-it defines the level at which job requires completion of identifiable piece of work. For example- A carpenter design a furniture, select wood, build object and give finishing to it.

3. Task significance- it defines as a degree to which job has a sustainable impact on the work of other people. For example- a clerk handling diverse needs of customers in a bank.

4. Autonomy- degree to which job provides freedom to schedule their work and procedure of the work. For example- a salesperson who schedules his work, time and sales approach without supervision.

5. Feedback- it means job results an individual obtain directly and clearly about the effectiveness of his work’s performance. For example- a factory work who assemble computer and test them to see if they function properly.

Note: "If you like my answer please give thumbs-up, it will help me to get motivated, thank you".