Approaches to job design models such as the JCM, DCSM, VM, ERI Model and STST tend generally to concentrate on static changes to job design.

Although the DCSM and STST both indicate that workers may seek to improve their work conditions if there is sufficient autonomy, even these models ignore hourly or daily variations in the extent to which workers – collectively and individually – and managers actively alter job characteristics to lead to temporary or semi-permanent changes in work.