How work redesign interventions affect performance: An evidence-based model from a systematic review

It is not yet clear whether work redesigns actually affect individual-, team- or organizational-level performance. In a synthesis of this literature, we conclude there is good overall evidence, with the most promising evidence at the individual level. Specifically, our systematic review assessed whe...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Knight, Caroline, Parker, Sharon
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE 2019
Online Access:http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL160100033
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/76392
_version_ 1848763680037011456
author Knight, Caroline
Parker, Sharon
author_facet Knight, Caroline
Parker, Sharon
author_sort Knight, Caroline
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description It is not yet clear whether work redesigns actually affect individual-, team- or organizational-level performance. In a synthesis of this literature, we conclude there is good overall evidence, with the most promising evidence at the individual level. Specifically, our systematic review assessed whether top-down work redesign interventions affect performance and, if so, why (mechanisms) and when (boundary conditions). We identified 55 heterogeneous work redesign intervention studies, of which 39 reported a positive effect on performance, two reported a negative effect, and 14 reported mixed effects. Of five types of work redesign, the evidence that work characteristics can explain the effect of redesign interventions on performance was most promising for relational interventions, and participative and non-participative job enrichment and enlargement. Autonomous work group and system-wide interventions showed initial evidence. As to ‘why’ work redesigns enhance performance, we identified change in work motivation, quick response and learning as three core mechanisms. As to ‘when’, we showed that intervention implementation, intervention context (including alignment of organizational systems, processes and the work redesign) and person factors are key boundary conditions. We synthesize our findings into an integrative multilevel model that can be used to design, implement and evaluate work redesigns aimed at improving performance.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T11:07:18Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-76392
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
language English
last_indexed 2025-11-14T11:07:18Z
publishDate 2019
publisher SAGE
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-763922019-10-22T03:01:28Z How work redesign interventions affect performance: An evidence-based model from a systematic review Knight, Caroline Parker, Sharon It is not yet clear whether work redesigns actually affect individual-, team- or organizational-level performance. In a synthesis of this literature, we conclude there is good overall evidence, with the most promising evidence at the individual level. Specifically, our systematic review assessed whether top-down work redesign interventions affect performance and, if so, why (mechanisms) and when (boundary conditions). We identified 55 heterogeneous work redesign intervention studies, of which 39 reported a positive effect on performance, two reported a negative effect, and 14 reported mixed effects. Of five types of work redesign, the evidence that work characteristics can explain the effect of redesign interventions on performance was most promising for relational interventions, and participative and non-participative job enrichment and enlargement. Autonomous work group and system-wide interventions showed initial evidence. As to ‘why’ work redesigns enhance performance, we identified change in work motivation, quick response and learning as three core mechanisms. As to ‘when’, we showed that intervention implementation, intervention context (including alignment of organizational systems, processes and the work redesign) and person factors are key boundary conditions. We synthesize our findings into an integrative multilevel model that can be used to design, implement and evaluate work redesigns aimed at improving performance. 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/76392 10.1177/0018726719865604 English http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL160100033 SAGE fulltext
spellingShingle Knight, Caroline
Parker, Sharon
How work redesign interventions affect performance: An evidence-based model from a systematic review
title How work redesign interventions affect performance: An evidence-based model from a systematic review
title_full How work redesign interventions affect performance: An evidence-based model from a systematic review
title_fullStr How work redesign interventions affect performance: An evidence-based model from a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed How work redesign interventions affect performance: An evidence-based model from a systematic review
title_short How work redesign interventions affect performance: An evidence-based model from a systematic review
title_sort how work redesign interventions affect performance: an evidence-based model from a systematic review
url http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL160100033
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/76392