The Effects of Job Characteristics and Gender On Hourly Employees' Personal Responsibility

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of several job characteristics on the sense of personal responsibility experienced by male and female assembly line employees. Role clarity, task identity, freedom, and task significance all affected women's perceptions that they were responsible for their work, and role clarity and task identity affected men's perceptions. The results suggested that the patterns by which job characteristics affect responsibility differ for women and men. Nevertheless, for both groups, an overall, clear understanding of the work that results from clear statements of responsibility and the opportunity to see whole tasks is the most important determinant of personal responsibility.