Morning Session #2: An Introduction to SMART Work Design: How to re-design work to reduce psychosocial hazards

Overview

Work design is at the very core of people’s work experiences and understanding work design can help organisations managing psychosocial risks. When work is well-designed, it promotes mental health and well-being, fosters creativity, innovation and optimal job performance. Poorly designed work, however, can lead to job dissatisfaction and disengagement. Prolonged exposure to poor work design is associated with depression, burnout, stifled learning, and reduced productivity.

What will the workshop cover?

This interactive workshop provides participants with a deep understanding of work design and its connection to mental-wellbeing. We will introduce the evidence-based and highly practical SMART work design model developed by Prof Sharon Parker, unpack each of the key elements of this model, and learn how it can help address psychosocial risks at work. We will also provide initial tips about how work design can be improved.

After completing this workshop, participants have:

• Acquired working knowledge of the fundamentals of work design and its pivotal role in employee experiences, especially from an employee wellbeing perspective
• Understood the connection between work design and key psychosocial risks at work
• Gained an understanding of the SMART work design model
• Identified initial ideas to improve work design within their own team or organisation

Who should attend?

This workshop is suitable for those with HR and leadership responsibilities (e.g., HR professionals, organisational development professionals, health and safety professionals, and those who are charged with workforce development, diversity and inclusion, wellbeing, etc).

About the facilitators

Dr Arian Kunzelmann

Dr Arian Kunzelmann is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Transformative Work Design as part of the Future of Work Institute at Curtin University. He is currently involved in a funded research project related to work redesign to improve worker mental health. Previously, he was working in a Senior Managerial HR Role for a large construction company in which he held responsibilities for the development and delivery of individual and team centred measures, acted as course lead for the internal leadership academy, and was involved in organizational change management projects.

Cati Thomas

Cati is an Organisational Psychologist at the Centre for Transformative Work Design, Curtin University. She is passionate about co-creating evidence-based and sustainable change and is currently co-leading Health and Social Assistance organisations through an intensive work redesign process. This project aims to improve employee work and wellbeing, and understand how work design interventions can be leveraged as a strategy to reduce the occurrence of psychosocial injury in this sector. Cati has worked in various research and consulting roles designing and delivering projects related to change management, learning and development, and SMART Work Design.