Implications of the Job Characteristics Theory for School Management in Ghana: A Literature Review

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to review literature on the implications of the job characteristics theory for school management. It is realized from the review that human beings have a basic and universal need and when these needs are met in their current situations then the individual is said to be satisfied. It is also found from the review of this paper that there is a positive relationship among the job characteristics, individual differences in need strength and employee’s motivation, satisfaction, performance and absenteeism on the job. It is deduced that that all three of the psychological states must be experienced by an individual if desirable outcomes are to emerge. If any one of three psychological states is not present, several outcome variables such as motivation and satisfaction will be weakened. From the review, it is recommended that the complete role of the job characteristics theory is a sine a qua as far as the management of school is concerned. It is therefore recommended periodical workshops are organized for all the heads and managers of schools to sensitize them on the need to redesign the teaching job. This will go a long way to assist school managers to identify the needs of their schools and redesign the jobs of their teachers. In this sense, the teachers would be willing to put off their best and eventually enhance the academic performance of the students.

Keywords: job redesign, job satisfaction, job diagnosis survey, school management