Editing Work design (section)

=== Sociotechnical systems ===
{{see also|Sociotechnical systems}}
[[File:Buurtzorg paraphernalia, Blijham (2020) 03.jpg|thumb|A well-known example of a sociotechnical systems approach to work design is [[Buurtzorg Nederland]]. Buurtzorg relies on self-managed teams of nurses to take responsibility for a given neighbourhood of patients, and is internationally recognised for its highly satisfied workforce.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Gray|first1=Bradford H. Gray|last2=Sarnak|first2=Dana O. Sarnak|last3=Burgers|first3=Jako S. Burgers|date=2015-05-29|title=Home Care by Self-Governing Nursing Teams: The Netherlands' Buurtzorg Model|location=New York, NY United States|doi=10.15868/socialsector.25117|doi-access=free}}</ref>]]
''Sociotechnical systems'' is an [[Organization development|organizational development]] approach which proposes that the technical and social aspects of work should be jointly optimized when designing work.<ref name=":4" /> This contrasts with traditional methods that prioritize the technical component and then 'fit' people into it, often resulting in mediocre performance at a high social cost.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last=Appelbaum|first=Steven H.|date=August 1997|title=Socio-technical systems theory: an intervention strategy for organizational development|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00251749710173823|journal=Management Decision|volume=35|issue=6|pages=452–463|doi=10.1108/00251749710173823|issn=0025-1747}}</ref> Application of sociotechnical theory has typically focused on group rather than individual work design, and is responsible for the rise of [[autonomous work group]]s, which are still popular today.<ref name=":4" />

One of the key principles of sociotechnical system design is that overall productivity is directly related to the system's accurate analysis of the social and technical needs.<ref name=":4" /> Accurate analysis of these needs typically results in the following work characteristics:<ref>{{Citation|last=Cherns|first=Albert|title=Principles of Socio-Technical Design|work=The Social Engagement of Social Science, Volume 2|year=1993|place=Philadelphia|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|doi=10.9783/9781512819052-019|isbn=978-1-5128-1905-2|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":5" />

* '''Minimal critical specification of rules''' – Work design should be precise about what has to be done, but not how to do it. The use of rules, policies and procedures should be kept to a minimum.
* '''Variance control''' – Deviations from the ideal process should be controlled at the point where they originate.
* '''Multiskills''' – A work system will be more flexible and adaptive if each member of the system is skilled in more than one function.
* '''Boundary location''' – Interdependent roles should fall within the same departmental boundaries, usually drawn on the basis of technology, territory, and/or time.
* '''Information flow''' – Information systems should provide information at the point of problem solving rather than being based on hierarchical channels.
* '''Support congruence''' – The social system should reinforce behaviours which are intended by the work group structure.
* '''Design and human values''' – The design should achieve superior results by providing a high quality of work life for individuals.