Task Redesign: Individual Moderating and Novelty Effects

Abstract

This paper examines reactions to actual redesign of a clerical, information-processing task. The moderating effects of individual work values are noted along with "novelty effects. " Workers with intrinsic work orientations held more favorable attitudes toward task redesign, although favorableness was negatively related to actual experience with the new task. Workers with extrinsic work orientations had less favorable attitudes toward change, but these attitudes were positively correlated with experience. These results suggest that response to task redesign is contingent upon individual differences.

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