CAIE A-Level Psychology A2 4.5 Satisfaction At Work Questions
Practise job satisfaction by applying theories, rating scales and work attitudes to workplace scenarios and evaluation questions.
- Syllabus
- 2028–2030
- Course
- Psychology 9990
- Level
- A2
Exam points
- apply Herzberg or job design ideas to suggest motivators for dissatisfied workers
- evaluate JDI or QWL measures by considering forced choices, psychometrics or reliability
- explain work attitudes using organisational commitment, job involvement or sabotage evidence
Covered syllabus points
Question 1
[Maximum number: 6]
Question (a)
(a)
Sally manages the production line of a toy factory. A recent survey of her employees has shown that they are not satisfied with their jobs.
Suggest two job design techniques that Sally could use with her employees to improve their job satisfaction.
[ 4 ]
Award 3-4 marks for a detailed answer with clear understanding of the two job design techniques that Sally could use with her employees to improve their job satisfaction.
Award 1-2 marks for a basic answer with some understanding of how job design technique(s) that Sally could use with her employees to improve their job satisfaction.
Likely answers:
- Rotation - tasks within the employee's current role are regularly changed.
- Enrichment - greater variety of tasks given.
- Enlargement - horizontal (more tasks to do at same level) / vertical (higher level tasks and/or addition of responsibility for decision making / move across different levels of organisation).
Example
Sally could first use job rotation where the tasks within the employee's current role on the toy factory production line are regularly changed. (1) This might improve job satisfaction as the employees get more variety and feel less bored on the production line. (1) Sally could also use job enlargement where she asks her employees to take on more responsibility such as setting the work rota for the production line. (1) This could improve satisfaction because the employees will feel that they have control over their working hours. (1)
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
4
Allow flexible working hours/shiftwork.
For full marks needs to have some reference to how suggestion would lead to job satisfaction (e.g. the work would be more interesting, less boring, more varied, - implies increased satisfaction).
Needs some contextualisation for 4 marks (e.g. toy factory, shop floor, production line).
Identification of two job design techniques (or more) = 1 mark max.
Question (b)
(b)
For one of the job design techniques you suggested in part (a):
Explain one weakness of this job design technique.
[ 2 ]
Award 2 marks for an explanation of the weakness.
Award 1 mark for a basic explanation of the weakness.
Weaknesses may include:
- Employees may require training in order to take on new responsibilities/roles which is time-consuming/costly.
- New jobs/tasks may lead to health and safety issues especially on a production line where accidents can happen.
- May still not lead to increased job satisfaction. Many production line jobs are not interesting and require the employee to do very repetitive tasks while maintaining a high level of focus.
- Productivity may reduce in the short term as employees adjust to new jobs/tasks which costs the organisation money.
Example:
If Sally has her team take on new responsibilities and they are put in charge of doing the shift rota each week this may be done unfairly. (1) The employee in charge of this might give themselves and those in the team that are their friends/closest co-workers the 'best' shifts which could lead to resentment in the rest of the team and a lowering in job satisfaction. (1)
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
2
Context is not required.
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