HBS Educational Technology Group: Job Design Optimization Tool

Publish date: 2024-04-24

Imagine that you are considering whether or not to accept a new position. After investigating the nature of the job, JDOT allows you to adjust four sliders—from narrow to wide—to answer the following questions:

  • What resources do I control directly within the organization to get the job done? (span of control)
  • What measures will be used to evaluate my performance? (span of accountability)
  • Who do I need to influence to achieve the goals for which I’m accountable? (span of influence)
  • How much support can I expect when I reach out to others for help? (span of support)
  • For any job to work effectively, the supply of resources must equal the demand for resources.

    The supply of resources available to you comes from two sources: (1) resources that you control directly through your position in the organization (span of control) and (2) other people’s willingness to help you (span of support).

    The demand for resources is generated by your need to: (1) achieve the measures for which you are accountable (span of accountability) and (2) influence people whose help you must rely on to succeed (span of influence).

    When the supply and demand of resources are in balance, JDOT will form an “X” indicating an equilibrium and telling you that the job is designed to succeed. If a job is poorly designed, the lines do not form an “X,” indicating that this job is unlikely to work effectively.

    The final step allows you to adjust key variables that affect the job to bring the supply and demand of resources into balance. When you have achieved equilibrium, JDOT will show an “X.”

    CONTINUE TO JDOT

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