A Field Experimental Study of the Effects of Job Enrichment on Job Satisfaction and Performance in the Air Force Environment.

Increased job satisfaction and performance are primary objectives of organizations. The area of job redesign offers great promise in achieving these objectives and one increasingly popular method of job redesign is job enrichment. The USAF reflects the concerns for satisfaction and performance and will soon implement an AF-wide program of job enrichment using the Hackman/Oldham theory. This theory redesigns the job to increase core job dimensions which enhance employee psychological states and result in desirable personal and work outcomes. Knowledge of theory results in the AF environment is lacking. This thesis expands the knowledge with an experimental implementation of the Hackman/Oldham theory in two branches of an AF transportation squadron. Experimental control was obtained using on- and off-base control groups. Perceptual measures were obtained before and after an eight-month intervention period. Results showed significant changes in job characteristics in one experimental group and increased satisfaction in both groups. Performance results were positive, but less conclusive. Moderator effects of the individual difference characteristic, Growth Need Strength (GNS), was tested and results indicated higher GNS caused greater increases in satisfaction and performance. (Author)