A Challenge For Modern Workplaces

Due to the growing complexity and turbulence of thepurpose of attaining job satisfaction, is to get them
business environment and the related growth inachieve results. Job satisfaction is one important
research knowledge about behavior withincontributor to job performance, among others, such
organizations, managers of the 21st century have toas motivation, reward systems and commitment.
take four themes as paramount: the necessity ofFurthermore, Maslow's need hierarchy theory, states
managing the challenges of change; functioning withinthat people strive to become self-actualized.
a global environment; being sensitive to the diversityHowever, before higher-level needs are activated,
among people; and behaving with ethical integrity. Incertain lower-level needs must be satisfied. In order
addition, with the increasing complexity of operations,for an employee to pursue to satisfy the next level,
organizations are building in greater participationthe first one has to be adequately served. So, as an
opportunities for non-managers. Groups ranging fromexample, safety in the working environment is prior
quality circles to self-managing and cross-functionalto self-actualization through the job's nature.
teams are involved in continuous improvementManagers have to take under consideration such
projects and running their own operations. Working infacts and develop programs, methods that will 'guide'
teams tends to improve the core job dimensionsthe employees through the levels of importance.
that affect people's psychological states andBusinesses today have turned towards this direction,
motivating potential at work. With high involvement,since the have invested greatly in improving the
people are challenged to rethink systems andemployees' feelings against their work, and contribute
processes-to eliminate tasks that no longer add value.to the future goals of the organization.
Because of accelerated shifts in global competitionManagement can use goal setting, as it is an
and technology, there is a tendency for organizationsimportant part of most job satisfaction programs,
to become less mechanistic and more organicand it is a valuable method of motivating employees.
(flexible). Bureaucracy, which for decades promotedAnother tool is considered today to be the flexible
efficiency and predictability through rules and control,working hours' system. It allows the employer to
is yielding to practices that create greater employeecontrol better his/her job and to gain valuable time
involvement and adaptation. With organic involvementthat is needed for a healthier presence and an
come flatter structures and a wider span of controlelevated morale. Also, telecommuting is gaining
for managers. As firms will create a lean structure,momentum, and can also be used for its motivational
they will become able to cope with its increasing sizepurposes. Both types of flexible work arrangements
and respond to environmental conditions.usually increase job satisfaction, and under some
From the stand point of the individual, job satisfactionconditions, they improve productivity. Managing
is an internal state that leads to the pursuit ofchange is the challenge for today's business, and its
objectives. From the standpoint of the manager, it issuccess or failure, will judge the viability of the firm in
the mean though which subordinates will becomethe future.
motivated to do the job and pursue objectives. The