A psychometric study of the job characteristics scale of the job diagnostic survey in an MIS setting

Job Diagnostic Survey (JDS) is a widely used instrument in research focusing on job design and motivation. Based on Hackman and Oldham’s Job Characteristics Theory, it is generally used to examine how workers respond to job design. It has been especially used in the MIS literature to measure the job characteristics of system professionals and their motivation and satisfaction level with their jobs, and their role perceptions. Yet JDS has been widely criticized for its suspect factor structure. Several psychometric studies JJilv G UGCIJ GUILUUGICU, VGIY to replicate the factors Hackman-Oldham model. searchers have found that ture varied depending on other job related factors. incs the dimension ality of JGW llLIVG UCCIJ iJUJC postulated by the Consistently, rethe proposed structhe profession and This paper examthe job characteristics scale of JDS in a sample consisting of analysts and programmers. The factor structure that emerges suggests that different factors may relate to analysts and programmers. It is recommended that JDS be used with caution especially in a non-ho mogenous sample.

[1]  J. Shepard,et al.  Functional Specialization, Alienation, and Job Satisfaction , 1970 .

[2]  Michael T. Brannick,et al.  Construction of a Job in General scale: A comparison of global, composite, and specific measures. , 1989 .

[3]  H. P. Sims,et al.  The Measurement of Job Characteristics , 1976 .

[4]  P. Kent,et al.  Statistical package for the social sciences (second edition), N. H. Nie, C. H. Hull, J. G. Jenkins, K. Steinbrenner and D. H. Bent, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1975. No. of pages: 675. price: £5.90 , 1977 .

[5]  S. Lirtzman,et al.  Role Conflict and Ambiguity in Complex Organizations. , 1970 .

[6]  Randall B. Dunham,et al.  The measurement and dimensionality of job characteristics. , 1976 .

[7]  Carol T. Kulik,et al.  Measurement of Job Characteristics: Comparison of the Original and the Revised Job Diagnostic Survey , 1988 .

[8]  Arthur P. Brief,et al.  DImensionality of Task Design as Measured by the Job Diagnostic Survey. , 1976 .

[9]  Ramon J. Aldag,et al.  Impact of individual differences on employee affective responses to task characteristics , 1975 .

[10]  Daniel Robey,et al.  User Response to an Online Information System: A Field Experiment , 1986, MIS Q..

[11]  J. Hackman,et al.  Employee reactions to job characteristics. , 1971 .

[12]  Jack J. Baroudi.  The Impact of Role Variables on Information Systems Personnel Work Attitudes and Intentions , 1985, MIS Q..

[13]  David J. Weiss,et al.  Further Considerations in Applications of Factor Analysis. , 1971 .

[14]  J. Hackman,et al.  Development of the Job Diagnostic Survey , 1975 .

[15]  Louis E. Davis,et al.  The Design of Jobs , 1966 .

[16]  David K. Goldstein,et al.  The Effects of Task Differences on the Work Satisfaction, Job Characteristics, and Role Perceptions of Programmer/Analysts , 1989, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[17]  Fritz Drasgow,et al.  A test of the measurement equivalence of the revised Job Diagnostic Survey: Past problems and current solutions. , 1988 .

[18]  R. Harvey,et al.  Confirmatory factor analysis of the Job Diagnostic Survey: Good news and bad news. , 1985 .

[19]  F. Drasgow,et al.  A Revision of the Job Diagnostic Survey: Elimination of a Measurement Artifact , 1987 .

[20]  Detmar W. Straub,et al.  Validating Instruments in MIS Research , 1989, MIS Q..

[21]  Jae-On Kim,et al.  Introduction to Factor Analysis: What It Is and How To Do It , 1978 .

[22]  R. Katz,et al.  Job longevity as a situational factor in job satisfaction. , 1978, Administrative science quarterly.

[23]  C. Hulin,et al.  Alienation, environmental characteristics, and worker responses. , 1967, The Journal of applied psychology.

[24]  J. Daniel Couger,et al.  Invited Article: Motivation Levels of MIS Managers Versus Those of Their Employees , 1979, MIS Q..

[25]  John F. Rockart,et al.  An Examination of Work-Related Correl ates of Job Satisfaction in Programmer/Analysts , 1984, ICIS.

[26]  Jack J. Baroudi.  The impact of role variables on IS personnel work attitudes and intentions , 1985 .

[27]  Second Edition,et al.  Statistical Package for the Social Sciences , 1970 .

[28]  Gerald R. Ferris,et al.  The Dimensionality of Job Characteristics. Some Neglected Issues , 1986 .

[29]  J. Daniel Couger,et al.  Motivating and managing computer personnel , 1980 .