Rutgers Introduction to Management Practice Exam

The question tests who developed the Job Characteristics Model. Hackman and Oldham are the researchers behind this model, which links five core job dimensions—skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback—to three psychological states: meaningfulness, responsibility, and awareness of results. When these states are strong, people tend to be more motivated, perform better, and feel more satisfied with their jobs. The model helps explain why certain job designs boost motivation and effectiveness beyond simple rewards.

Understanding what each of the other theories focuses on can help see why they aren’t the source of the Job Characteristics Model: Adams and Vroom are linked to equity theory and expectancy theory, Herzberg with the two-factor theory, McClelland with needs (achievement, power, affiliation), and McGregor with Theory X and Theory Y, while Mayo is associated with Hawthorne studies on social and group dynamics.