Background:

ABC Corporation, a leading technology firm, has been experiencing high turnover rates among its software

engineers. Despite offering competitive salaries and benefits, many employees leave within a year of

joining the company. Concerned about this trend, the HR department decided to investigate the

underlying causes of the high turnover and explore potential solutions.

Introduction:

Job Characteristic Theory $($JCT$)$ proposes that certain job characteristics can lead to higher levels of

motivation, satisfaction, and performance among employees. According to JCT$,$ five core job characteristics

contribute to these outcomes: skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback.

Case Description:

ABC Corporation analyzed the job roles and responsibilities of its software engineers to determine how

well they aligned with the principles of Job Characteristic Theory. They found that while the company

offered challenging work in terms of technical complexity, the job roles lacked variety and autonomy.

Engineers typically worked on isolated tasks within a larger project, which limited their sense of task

identity and significance. Additionally, the feedback mechanisms were sporadic, with performance

evaluations conducted only once a year.

Implementation:

To address the issues identified through the lens of Job Characteristic Theory, ABC Corporation

implemented several changes:

Job Redesign: The company restructured the job roles of software engineers to incorporate more variety

and autonomy. Engineers were given opportunities to work on different aspects of a project and make

decisions independently within their areas of expertise.

Enhanced Feedback Systems: ABC Corporation implemented regular feedback sessions between engineers

and their supervisors. This allowed for continuous performance evaluation and adjustment, enabling

employees to track their progress and receive recognition for their contributions.

Skill Development Programs: The company introduced skill development programs aimed at expanding

the skillset of software engineers. By offering training in diverse technologies and methodologies, ABC

Corporation aimed to increase skill variety and task significance, thereby enhancing job satisfaction and

motivation.

Outcome:

Following the implementation of these changes, ABC Corporation observed several positive outcomes:

Reduced Turnover: The turnover rate among software engineers decreased significantly, indicating higher

levels of job satisfaction and engagement.

Improved Performance: Employees demonstrated increased productivity and innovation, as evidenced by

the successful completion of projects ahead of schedule and the introduction of novel solutions to

technical challenges.

Enhanced Employee Morale: Engineers reported higher levels of job satisfaction and morale, citing the

increased variety, autonomy, and feedback as key contributors to their overall sense of fulfillment at work.

Conclusion:

By applying the principles of Job Characteristic Theory, ABC Corporation was able to identify and address

the underlying factors contributing to high turnover among its software engineers. Through job redesign,

enhanced feedback systems, and skill development programs, the company successfully improved job

satisfaction, motivation, and performance, ultimately leading to a more engaged and productive

workforce.

Questions:

Q$1)$ How did ABC Corporation apply the principles of Job Characteristic Theory to address the high

turnover among its software engineers?