Job design, opportunities for skill utilization, and intrinsic job satisfaction

Arguably, job designs that provide for high levels of employee control alsoprovide increased opportunities for the development and exercise of skill.Perceived skill utilization has consistently been found to be amongst thestrongest predictors of job-related affective well-being, yet is frequentlyneglected in studies of work redesign. In this article, a theoretical frameworklinking the key job characteristics of perceived control and perceived cognitivedemand to perceived skill utilization and intrinsic job satisfaction is presented.Results from one cross-sectional study and one longitudinal study are reportedthat support the mediational influence of perceived skill utilization on theperceived job control – job satisfaction relationship only. The relationshipbetween perceived job demand and perceived skill utilization was mixed but nomediating effect was evident. It is argued that the level of both perceiveddemand and perceived control dictates the nature of the joint influence of bothjob characteristics on perceived skill utilization and work attitudes such as jobsatisfaction.