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  • Proactive behaviours and job crafting in teams

    Top of Page Proactive behaviours and job crafting in teams Project Brief This project seeks to further our understanding of proactive work behaviour in teams (in the form of job crafting). Job crafting involves people altering their tasks and interactions at work to better align them with their needs, abilities, and preferences. There are four different types of job crafting, which involve increasing or decreasing certain job demands or job resources. So far, the research on job crafting has mainly focused on exploring its individual benefits. It suggests that people who job craft are more fulfilled and happier within their job roles, and that they are therefore more likely to thrive at work. To the best of our knowledge however, there is a gap in the research on the ways in which job crafting may affect others. We aim to address this gap in research by studying the role of job crafting in team contexts. In doing so, we shed light on the team dynamics affected by these behaviours, informing our understanding of pro-activity in organisations and contributing to the growing body of research on this topic. We seek to sample a minimum of about 200 adult participants who are either full-time or part-time working to take part in this study. How to participate? You can participate in this research through an online experiment. Your participation involves working on an interdependent task that can be carried out online. First, you will receive some background information about the task. You will then interact with another team member via online messaging about this task. This team member will send you email messages and you may select how you wish to respond to them. Afterwards, you will be asked about your perceptions of this co-worker (i.e. his/her behaviours, e.g. “This co-worker tries to develop him/herself professionally”), as well as some questions about yourself (your gender, age, work experience, etc.). You will only have to participate once in this study and your data will be saved electronically. The entire study should take about 30 minutes to complete. Apart from your time, there will be no extra cost to you for taking part in this research. We will use an experimental approach in this study, and each participant will be randomly assigned to their co-worker for this task. That is, your co-worker will be assigned to you by chance, like tossing a coin. Interested to participate in our simulation? If you would like to help us with this, please click the following link. Link for Online Experiment Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) has approved this study (HREC number HRE2019-0296 Faculty Dr Florian Klonek florian.klonek@curtin.edu.au External Dr Maria Tims m.tims@vu.nl Professor Sharon Parker s.parker@curtin.edu.au Student Investigator Jasmine Labriola jasmine.labriola@outlook.com Other Projects on Team and Organisations

  • MARS Landmark Study | Work Design Research

    The State Government has engaged the Centre for Transformative Work Design (CTWD) at Curtin University to design and implement a research and evaluation project on mental health, awareness, respect and safety - the MARS Landmark Study in the mining industry. Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Program in the mining industry LATEST RESEARCH Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Program Landmark Study Report: Insights from the worker survey and interviews The Insights from the Worker Survey and Interviews report surveyed 2,550 WA mine workers to understand their perceptions of mental health awareness, respect and safety. Sixty further workers were interviewed one-on-one. Full report Read Ministerial Statement Infographic Summary Report launch slides JUMP TO Key findings Our approach Publications Contact us RELATED RESEARCH Previous study (2018) Key findings Safety remains a strength of the industry Most WA mining workers reported high levels of safety behaviours such as safety compliance and safety participation 4 in 10 workers Reported experiencing positive aspects of mental health at work Levels of bullying are high while preliminary indicators suggest that rates of bullying have decreased since 2018, 16% of workers reported experiencing bullying at least 2-3 times per month in the last 6 months. Underreporting of notifiable safety incidents and near misses While low continue to exist in the industry Nearly 4 in 10 workers Reported feeling burnt out at work Covert forms of sexual harassment (e.g., sexism, misogyny, sexual remarks) are far more prevalent in the mining industry compared to overt forms of sexual harassment About this research The Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Program is a WA Government initiative that aims to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of workers and others in the mining industry. The Landmark Study is one of the many initiatives under the MARS Program . The Landmark Study was commissioned by the Western Australian Government to design and implement a research and evaluation project focused on the mining industry, regarding three focus areas: Creating mentally healthy workplaces By managing psychosocial hazards and promoting positive practices at work that support mental health and wellbeing Building a culture of safety and respect With healthy, safe, gender-equitable, respectful and inclusive workplaces Preparing workplace safety in the future mine Addressing emerging risks and fostering innovation in safety by design, automation and artificial intelligence The Landmark Study will be completed over a four year period, including: A mapping and scoping exercise of initiatives currently undertaken by the Australian mining industry, and initiatives that are applicable to the mining industry A literature review to summarise the existing research A workplace policy and practices survey to understand the initiatives related to mental health, respect, and safety that WA mining companies currently undertake One-on-one, confidential listening sessions with workers and contractors An employee survey of workers and contractors to better understand perceptions of mental health, respect and safety Survey is now closed, thank you for your participation. Our Approach Our advisory groups Industry Panel We have invited representatives from peak bodies, unions, government and public health to join the MARS Industry Expert Panel. The Industry Expert Panel includes representatives from organisations, associations and bodies who are committed to contributing to meaningful change in the mining industry. A key aim of the Industry Expert Panel is to maximise the impact of the MARS Landmark Study by ensuring that the research is guided not only by scientific evidence, but also that findings and recommendations are contextualised for the current Australian mining context and resonates with practices in the mental health sector. The industry expert members of this panel will advise the project team on the unique challenges and issues of the mining industry, to provide feedback at each stage of the project, to connect the project team to organisations in the mining industry, to contextualise findings, and assist with disseminating findings and recommendations. Academic Panel We have a team of senior academics who are subject matter experts who are established and well-respected in their fields. Members of this panel include senior academics from Curtin University (School of Population Health), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre and the University of Western Australia (School of Psychological Science). The academic members of this panel will provide technical oversight of the methodology, contribute to selection of reliable and valid survey measures and provide advise on data analysis approaches, and review key reports. Publications NEW: Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Program Landmark Study Report: Insights from the worker survey and interviews This report establishes a baseline of current practices and experiences, through: a workplace policy and practices survey that assesses the initiatives that mining companies engage in to support employee well-being; an employee survey that assesses employees’ experiences in regard to the three focus areas; employee interviews to understand the lived experiences of employees in relation to the three focus areas. Access the report Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety in the mining industry – MARS Program Landmark Study: Workplace policy and practice survey This report establishes as baseline of current pracitces and experiences, through a workplace policy and practice survey. The survey asked than 100 human resources and related experts about the initiatives engaged in by their current companies. Access the report Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety in the mining industry – The Landmark Study: A review and synthesis of the literature This report provides a literature review which provides an overview and synthesis of the current literatureconcerning the three focus areas: Creating mentally healthy workplaces Building a culture of safety and respect Preparing for workplace safety in the future mine Access the report Towards a healthy and safe workforce in the mining industry: A review and mapping of current practice This report provides an assessment of employee well-being in the mining sector and develops an innovative approach to construct measures of employers’ prioritisation of three dimensions of well-being: mental health and well-being, physical health and safety, and workplace culture that protects against sexual harassment. Access the report Impact of FIFO work arrangements on the mental health and wellbeing of FIFO workers Report produced for the WA Mental Health Commission (September 2018) Access the report Learn more about our study on FIFO mental health In 2018 extensive research was conducted by expert researchers from Curtin University and the University of Western Australia on the impact of fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) arrangements on the mental health and well-being of workers. More than 3000 FIFO workers and partners were surveyed or interviewed. See our research Sign up for updates To receive invitations to the workshops and survey For any enquiries for the MARS Landmark Study, please email marslandmarkstudy@curtin.edu.au. First name Last name Email Position I currently work in the WA mining industry Subscribe to the MARS Landmark Study mailing list (Required) Submit Thank you.

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    FOR INDIVIDUALS Is flexible work for you? It is clear that flexible working has both benefits and challenges that may not be ideal for every employee, and this could be due to individual differences, such as in one’s personality as well as differences in one’s life situation (e.g., the space for a home office). Find more flexible work resources for workers: Download Back to main page

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    FOR TEAMS Virtual teams thrive on complexity Complex work can improve virtual team performance through its ability to stimulate efficient and effective communication, team reflection and learning, and better team solutions. Find more flexible work resources for managers: Download Back to main page

  • 2024 CTWD Conference | Work Design Research

    Attendee Terms, Conditions & Cancellations Effective as of 14 January 2024 About the policy These attendee conditions apply to the 2024 Centre for Transformative Work Design (CTWD) Conference and are applicable to any individual who has registered, enrolled or been invited to attend. Please read these attendee conditions carefully as they contain important information. You acknowledge that you have read and agree to be bound by these attendee conditions upon: submitting a completed registration; or attending or participating in the event, if you are not required to pre-register for it. Registration and payment Acceptance of registration is at the discretion of the Curtin University and all attendees who are required to register for an event, will be provided with a written confirmation upon full payment of any fees. Curtin University reserves the right to decline any registration, if so will refund or not process any monies then paid. Curtin University reserves the right to change the fee at any time, but changes will not affect registrations already confirmed. Registration cannot be confirmed until payment is received, and full payment must be received prior to the conference commencing. Some events have limited places available. Registration, or attendance where pre-registration is not required, is on a “first-in” basis. If Curtin University has invited you to attend an event without the need for registration or payment of the requisite fee, you must confirm your attendance within the time specified in the invitation (if any) in order to reserve your position. Payment Payment can be made in the following methods: VISA, Mastercard, Amex (Credit and Debit cards) and PayPal. Please note a 0.7% surcharge applies to all payments by Visa, Mastercard and AMEX credit cards and PayPal. Payment by debit card or Flywire does not incur a surcharge. Transfers and substitutions Where permitted, you may substitute another attendee to attend the event in your place by written notice to Curtin University at least 5 business days prior to the event start date. Any substitution will be subject to a $50 name correction charge and this fee is payable upon the submission of the substitution request. Curtin University reserves the right to refuse entry to any substitute delegate for whom Curtin University was not provided written notice, or payment is not received in time, or where relevant eligibility criteria (if any) are not satisfied. Curtin University acceptance of substitution is also subject to the payment of any applicable additional fees for the event. Cancellation & Refund Where permitted, you may cancel your registration. Notification of cancellation must be made in writing and sent by email to: CTWD-Conference@curtin.edu.au . Curtin University understands that circumstances can change. At any point prior to the conference you are welcome to contact us on: CTWD-Conference@curtin.edu.au to nominate a substitute attendee. If the substitute attendee does not qualify for the assigned registration type, then the monetary difference will apply. Cancellation more than or equal to 45 days before the conference: 100% refund less an administration fee of $125 including GST Cancellation less than 45days and more than 30 days before the conference: 50% refund Cancellation 30 days or less: No refund Please note that every effort will be made to maximise a refund to attendees in the case of cancellations, however in some instances for in-person events, Curtin University may already be liable for costs such as catering. All cancellations must be provided in writing to the Conference Organisers via CTWD-Conference@curtin.edu.au . Any funds retained by Curtin University when issuing a refund are a genuine pre-estimate of reasonable costs incurred at the time of the cancellation. Refunds will not be granted if you fail to attend or where a substitute is refused entry under these terms and conditions. Cancellation pursuant to this clause does not terminate our agreement with you, which continues until resolution of all outstanding matters to Curtin University’s satisfaction. Event changes Curtin University reserves the right at any time to: Change the format, participants, content, location and timing or any other aspect of an event. Postpone events or any part of those events. Cancel an event or any part, and will not be liable to you for any damages, costs, losses or expenses of any kind incurred or suffered by you in connection with Curtin University modifying, postponing or cancelling an event or any part. Event changes may include: Converted from in person to virtual only conference In the event the conference is not able to proceed as planned, and is moved to a full virtual only format, your registration will automatically be transferred to a virtual registration. If you choose not to attend the virtual conference, Curtin University will not be required to refund any part of the conference registration fee. Curtin University will not be liable for other personal cancellation fees incurred such as flights, accommodation or transfers. Conference cancelled In the event of cancellation by Curtin University or the venue, all payments made to Curtin University will be fully refunded. Curtin University will not be liable for other personal cancellation fees incurred such as flights, accommodation or transfers. Conference postponed In the event of postponement by Curtin University or the venue, all registrations will be carried over to the revised event dates unless a refund is requested. Curtin University will not be liable for other personal cancellation fees incurred such as flights, accommodation or transfers. Event content An event’s content and program is accurate as at the time of publication. Curtin University may make changes to an event as required, however will use reasonable efforts to provide a program and content of equivalent standard. Event content is obtained from sources believed to be reputable and reliable, including content developed and delivered by students. Curtin University accepts no liability for any inaccuracy or misrepresentation. The content is not professional advice or a substitute for seeking professional advice, or as a full consideration of particular circumstances faced by the user. Acting in accordance with information provided by an event does not guarantee discharge of any duty. Participants are expected to exercise their own judgement as to the suitability and applicability of information provided during any event. COVID, health and safety We recommend to follow the advice of the Federal and/or State Government Covid guidelines and health directions. If you are unwell or have COVID and/or cold and flu like symptoms, you are asked to not attend the in-person event. Please refer to our cancellation and refund terms for further details. For more information visit: www.australia.gov.au . Venue requirements Attendees acknowledge that different event venues may have requirements different to those outlined in these terms and agreements. Unless the venue requirements are more stringent, the Curtin University guidelines are to be followed. Curtin University will communicate any different requirements in pre-event communication to attendees. For large events Curtin University may utilise check in by scanning a personalised QR code, emailed to attendees prior to the event or contained within a conference app. After checking in at the event via a registration terminal, a name badge will be printed for each attendee which the attendee can then attach to a self-collected lanyard. Travel Should you travel to attend this event, you acknowledge that you do so at your own risk and are responsible for ensuring you adhere to all Local, State and Federal Government requirements, health orders, restrictions and visa requirements. You acknowledge that by travelling at your own risk Curtin University will not be held liable for any additional costs or losses incurred due to changes in travel restrictions. Any such costs and/or losses incurred or suffered are the responsibility of the individual attendee. All travellers to Australia, other than Australian and New Zealand citizens, are required to obtain a visa. Conference attendees may be eligible for the following visas: Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (subclass 601) eVisitor (subclass 651) Visitor visa (subclass 600) in the Business Visitor stream Visa requirements vary from country to country. Some nationalities may be required to undergo biometrics scanning and obtain medical clearance to travel to Australia. Please note we do not seek or assist with visas on your behalf. Please consult the Australian Department of Home Affairs website for up-to-date information on preparing to travel to Australia from overseas specific to your country of passport. Travel bursary Full payment of the awarded cash amount will be made to successful applicants on submission of the Payment form and proof of travel arrangements (flight booking confirmation and itinerary). Instructions for completing complimentary conference registration will be provided. If awardees are experiencing financial hardship, they may apply for upfront payment prior to booking travel by contacting CTWD-Conference@curti n.edu.au . Delegate’s rights and obligations By registering, you warrant your details as provided are true and correct. You must comply with any particular conditions, rules, regulations or usage requirements of the venue or of Curtin University in connection with the event. You are expected to behave in a professional and appropriate manner at all events consistent with the law and local guidelines. You must also comply with all verbal and written directions given by Curtin University whilst attending or participating in the event. Curtin University reserves the right, without any liability, to refuse admission to, or to eject you from an event, in its absolute discretion, including (without limitation), for failure to comply with these conditions or if in the opinion of Curtin University you represent a security risk, nuisance or annoyance to the running of an event. Photography and the recording or transmitting of audio or visual material, data or information is prohibited at the event without Curtin University’s prior written consent. Risk management It is your responsibility to inform Curtin University of any dietary intolerances or other requirements you may have, sufficiently in advance to enable an attempt to accommodate these requirements (or where this is not possible, inform you of such). You use the venue and all associated facilities at your own risk. Despite anything else in these conditions, Curtin University accepts no liability to you or any third party for any loss of or damage to any of your equipment, materials or other belongings brought to the venue, whether by fire, theft, accident, injury or otherwise. An event may include inherently dangerous activities, including the use of specialised equipment. Reasonable assistance will be provided, however attendees are responsible for their own wellbeing and Curtin University accepts no liability for any loss, damage or injury incurred in connect with an event. Any liability incurred by Curtin University in connection with the event will be limited to the refund of the fee paid to Curtin University. All guarantees, representations, conditions and warranties of any nature are expressly excluded. However, nothing in these conditions limits, excludes or modifies or purports to do so, the guarantees as provided under the Competition and Consumer Act (Cth) and the Australian Consumer Law. If these Acts impose any inalienable consumer rights then to the extent of any inconsistency with these conditions, these conditions are to be read down to permit those rights. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Curtin University excludes all indirect or consequential liability and all liability for any loss (including indirect or consequential loss), expense, damage, personal injury or death incurred (whether or not arising from negligence) by you in connection with the event. You release Curtin University from any action, suits, proceedings, claims, demands, costs and expenses, incurred in connection with our acts, omissions or negligence in connection with these conditions or any event. You further indemnify Curtin University, its employees, agents, contactors and sub-contractors against, and agree to make good, any action, suits, proceedings, claims, demands, costs and expenses (including legal costs, professional costs and other expenses on a full indemnity basis), incurred in connection with these conditions. Any such amount is a debt due and payable within 30 business days of request. Force Majeure Curtin University shall not be liable for any loss caused by the cancellation of all or part of the 2024 CTWD Conference where such cancellation is due to Force Majeure. The organisers will use all reasonable efforts to conduct the conference despite the intervention or occurrence of any such cause. In this clause, Force Majeure means circumstances which are beyond the reasonable control of Curtin University and which are reasonably likely to affect Curtin University’s successful delivery of the 2024 CTWD Conference or would make it inadvisable, impracticable, illegal, or impossible to perform its obligations as originally contracted under this Agreement, including: fire, flood, earthquake, extreme adverse weather conditions, failure of electric power, gas, water, or other utility service, collapse of building structures, widespread disease or other public health emergency (including pandemic or epidemic), strike or other industrial action, the outbreak or declaration of war, act of terrorism, revolution or government orders or action (including the declaration of a State of Emergency). If, as a result of Force Majeure, Curtin University cancel the Event/s, Curtin University shall use reasonable commercial endeavours to reschedule the conference. General Curtin University reserves the right to amend these conditions from time to time. Unless notified to you, the terms governing your attendance at an event will be those in force at the time of your registration for that event or attendance if you do not need to register (as applicable). The failure, delay, relaxation or indulgence on the part of Curtin University in exercising, in part or whole, any power, right or remedy conferred upon that party by these conditions do not operate as a waiver of that power, right or remedy. If any provision of these conditions is invalid or not enforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the relevant term is to be read down and shall otherwise be capable of being severed to the extent of the invalidity or unenforceability without affecting the remaining provisions of these conditions. These conditions are governed by the laws exercised by the courts in the State of Western Australia, Australia. Each party irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of that State. Insurance Registration fees do not include insurance of any kind. It is strongly recommended that at the time you register for the conference and book your travel that you take out an insurance policy of your choice. The policy should include loss of fees/deposit through cancellation of your participation in the conference, or through cancellation of the conference, loss of international/domestic airfares through cancellation for any reason, loss of monies through cancellation for any reason including airline or related service strikes within Australia, failure to utilise tours or pre-booked arrangements due to airline delay, Force Majeure or any other reason, medical expenses (including sickness and accident cover), loss or damage to personal property, additional expenses and repatriation should travel arrangements have to be altered. Curtin University cannot take any responsibility for any participant failing to arrange their own insurance. This insurance is to be purchased in your country of origin. Intention to photograph/record By registering to attend this event you grant Curtin University permission to photograph/video record you during this activity to support promotion, publicity and reporting of this event, and future Curtin University activities. If you have any objection to being photographed or filmed, please speak to Curtin University representative at this event. Please be advised that all presentations will be recorded (video and audio) and made available for purchase. We reserve the right to use these recordings for educational, promotional, and commercial purposes. The recorded material may be edited, duplicated , distributed, reproduced, broadcasted, and/or reformatted in any form and manner without the need of additional consent from the participants. Participants understand and agree that the recordings may be made available for purchase by individuals or entities at the discretion of Curtin University. The pricing, distribution, and access to these recordings will be determined by Curtin University and may be subject to change without notice. Curtin University holds all rights, titles, and interest in and to the recordings, including the copyright thereof, under all applicable laws, and regulations. Privacy statement Protecting your privacy and your personal information is an important aspect of the way Curtin University conducts its activities, online and offline. By registering to attend this event you are acknowledging that you have read and understood the Curtin University Privacy Statement which sets out how we collect, use, manage and store your personal information. The full Curtin University Privacy Statement can be viewed here: https://informationmanagement.curtin.edu.au/privacy/ Event code of conduct The Code of Conduct (Code) establishes the behavioural standards to be observed by Curtin University’s staff and event attendees, contractors, volunteers and suppliers in connection with the Event. It aims to ensure that high levels of safety and professional conduct are maintained from and towards all personnel attending such Curtin University supported activities, during and outside of official activity hours. The standards set out in the Code apply to any activity or communication that occurs face to face, as well as on any virtual event platform. Standard of profess ional behaviour All personnel must behave professionally at all times in connection with the Event. The standards of professional behaviour to be observed include (without limitation): Show respect towards others at all times, including being considerate, cooperative and collaborative; Present and behave in an appropriate professional manner including in dress code, communications, actions etc; Take all reasonable steps to ensure own safety, including in relation to the responsible consumption of alcohol; Follow the reasonable rules, policies, directions and other practices required by Curtin University or any venue hosting the Event; and Alert security personnel or Curtin University staff if a potentially unsafe situation is observed or suspected. Prohibited behaviour includes any behaviour that is unacceptable or unwelcome, and includes without limitation: Harassment whether direct or indirect (words or actions directed at a person that annoys, alarms or causes substantial emotional distress); Discrimination whether direct or indirect (treating someone unfairly because of race, colour, sex, sexual preference, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin); Sexual harassment (unwelcome, uninvited conduct that is offensive from the view of the person harassed, regardless of intent; unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome request for sexual favours, any other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature); Physical abuse and uninvited physical contact; • Intimidation, threats (implied or real) of any form whatsoever, as well as verbal abuse including any unwelcome or discriminatory comments in relation to an individual; Defamatory comments of any nature; Displaying, sharing, sending or discussing inappropriate material e.g. offensive words, images or media in any form whatsoever, suggestive comments or jokes of a sexual nature; Disruptive or anti-social behaviour; Unexplained absences from commitments; Consumption or possession of illicit drugs; Inability or unwillingness to conduct oneself professionally, including as a result of drunken behaviour; Any unlawful behaviour of whatsoever nature; Any damage to property of whatsoever nature. Should any prohibited behaviour be observed, anticipated, suspected or reported, Curtin University may take any reasonable measure that it deems necessary to ensure the safety of others, and/or the maintenance of a professional environment. Such action may include refusal of entry to, or removal of one or more individuals from the Event, and any future activities undertaken by Curtin University, at its sole discretion. Any prohibited, unwelcome or unprofessional behaviour that is witnessed or suspected, should be reported immediately to a Curtin University representative immediately. Confidentiality of the reporting individual will be maintained where it is practical to do so. Reports will be treated seriously and investigated. Appropriate action will follow. Contact That's a wrap! To learn more about accessing conference recordings, visit the link below Purchase access to session recordings Click to view the conference booklet For further information see the terms and conditions . For enquires please email CTWD-conference@curtin.edu.au .

  • SMART - Agency | Work Design Research

    SMART Work enables Agency About the model The third letter in the SMART work framework stands for 'Agency'. This aspects delves into to the extent to which you are able to organise your own schedule, while work methods refers to the extent to which you can choose the methods in which to achieve your work goals. Agency or ones degree for decision making refers to the extent to which you are able to make judgements and decisions individually. Whilst some jobs will inherently involve a higher degree of agency than others, there is always ways in which to improve this aspect of work design. JUMP TO Stimulating Mastery Relational Tolerable demands RELATED RESEARCH SMART Design for Care Watch this animated explainer video on Agency Qualities of high Agency Jobs For example, jobs with a high degree of agency allow individuals to: control the timing and scheduling of their tasks decide upon the best methods of completing a task, including the chance to show initiative make decisions independently and feel empowered in doing so “We are allowed so much freedom to use our creativity here.” - Childcare Worker “It was hard not to have any control over my job – you don’t have input, everything is set out for you.” - Call Centre Operator Qualities of low Agency jobs In contrast, jobs with a low degree of agency can involve: a lack of flexibility or limited chances in which to provide input towards the scheduling and timing of tasks excessive bureaucracy and red tape limiting the availability of different work methods retribution and criticism for mistakes and micromanagement from supervisors What are the risks of low Agency Jobs? Work that is overly restrictive, with little room for input or independent decision making poses a number of risks for individuals and organisations: One of the key risks for employees who experience a low degree of agency in their work relates to mental health. A recent study showed that employees who had jobs with minimal agency had a 20-25% increased risk of experiencing mental health issues [1]. For organisations, the risks of overly controlling work, with little room for input are extensive. Research has demonstrated that enhancing agency can lead to improved safety outcomes, employee engagement, skill development/learning, productivity and proactivity [2] [3]. Research spotlight Research shows that job autonomy (alongside communication quality) was a significant predictor for increased safety compliance. Further analysis demonstrated that this effect occurred due to individuals with a high degree of job agency feeling more committed to the organisation and therefore more likely to follow safety rules [4]. A longitudinal study over 18 months demonstrated that work design features such as high degrees of agency and social support were positively related to increased personal resources such as perceived self-efficacy, organisational based self-esteem and optimism. These were linked together in a reciprocal relationship with employee engagement [5]. Strategies to increase Agency Micromanager from hell? No way to have a say in the direction of your organisation? Fear not, there are a number of practical strategies you can implement to try and improve the overall agency of your role. Here are some practical tips for you to try out: Strategies for Employees Strategies for Managers Strategies for Organisations Here are some practical tips to try and help increase the agency of your work: Speak to your manager about any projects that in which you could take ownership. Often smaller scale projects can be a great opportunity to demonstrate value whilst still building valuable skills. If you are able to identify a more effective or efficient method of carrying out your work, develop a business case for it that you can take to your manager. Often, work is carried out in the same manner because ‘that’s how it’s always been done’. Creating a business case will help to make the switch less risky for your manager. To learn more strategies, check out our training opportunities. Explore opportunities Improving the sense of agency within your team can lead to a myriad of benefits. A few strategies you can try out are listed below: Take an active interest in developments and advancements of your field through reading articles, listening to podcasts and attending conferences. You can then use this information to help inspire your team towards using different methods in which to achieve their goals. At times when you have had to make difficult decisions or implement new organisational changes, use this as a learning opportunity. Distil key learnings and your thought processes in to short case studies to share with your team. To learn more strategies, check out our training opportunities. Explore opportunities To learn more strategies, check out our training opportunities. Explore opportunities Further resources References [1] SafeWork NSW. (2017). Review of evidence of psychosocial risks for mental ill-health in the workplace. [2] Parker, S. K., (2015). Does the evidence and theory support the ‘Good Work Design Principles’: An educational resource. Safe Work Australia. [3] Parker, S. K. (2014). Beyond motivation: Job and work design for development, health, ambidexterity, and more. Annual Review of Psychology, 65, 661-691. [4] Parker, S. K., Wall, T. D., & Cordery, J. L. (2001). Future work design research and practice: Towards an elaborated model of work design. Journal of occupational and organizational psychology, 74(4), 413-440. [5] Xanthopoulou, D., Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2009). Reciprocal relationships between job resources, personal resources, and work engagement. Journal of Vocational behavior, 74(3), 235-244.

  • Job crafting: A new approach of work redesign by employees

    Job crafting: A new approach of work redesign by employees Top of Page Job crafting: A new approach of work redesign by employees Project Brief This project has three main aims. Firstly, to clarify the theoretical construct of job crafting and to bring together two different job crafting perspectives; secondly, to investigate when and why employees engage in different types of job crafting, especially demands crafting; thirdly, to investigate the effects of different types of job crafting. Contact for more information: Fangfang Zhang Faculty : Fangfang Zhang Sharon Parker Other Transforming Individuals Projects

  • Sketching Work Design | Work Design Research

    Sketching Work Design in Perth Artist in residence Lynne Chapman About the project The Centre for Transformative Work Design in 2018 worked with Lynne Chapman, a talented illustrator and urban sketcher, over a two-month Artist-in- Residence period. During this period Lynne (accompanied by one of our researchers) was immersed in workplaces across Perth and in rural and remote WA. QUICK LINKS The stories Competition outcome All competition entries Lynne Chapman As sketching allows images to be captured quickly, the sketches enabled us to illustrate real people in real work places, which when combined with narratives, provided a powerful way to communicate with the community about the importance of good work design and how it can be achieved. The Artist-in-Residence program was completed with an exhibition showcasing of the sketches and narratives. The Artist-in-Residence program will enabled the Centre to: Engage and communicate with the community – art is a powerful communication tool. We think it will be particularly useful in explaining abstract concepts such as the characteristics your work needs to have to be motivating and less stressful. Educate the community – when looking at the art, we want managers and employees to have “aha” moments about the effects of good and bad work design. We hope they apply this knowledge back at their workplaces. Foster inspiration for research – for example, by collecting people’s comments and narratives. Work Design Sketches and Stories Read our stories of good and bad work design brought to life by Lynne's insightful sketches. The Sketches About the Artist Lynne Chapman is a reportage artist, an award-winning children's illustrator with over 30 books, and UK correspondent for the international sketching organisation, Urban Sketchers. Lynne creates sketched-paintings live, on site, recording her immediate observations often at a fast and furious pace. She is interested in drawings which not only capture, but interpret or comment on the subject, telling the story of a situation or period of time. Lynne is based in Sheffield (UK). She is passionate about drawing and is founder of Urban Sketchers Yorkshire, encouraging others to draw out on-location. Her book “Sketching People” was published by Search Press and Barrons in 2016. See more of Lynne's work Sketching Competition As part of the residency project, we hosted a work design sketching competition. We were delighted by the number and qualities of the entries. Who won? View all entries

  • Tools for Work Design | Work Design Research

    TOOLS FOR WORK DESIGN VIRTUAL TEAM SIMULATION ACTIVITY Do you want to test how effectively you and your co-workers are able to coordinate as a virtual team? Use our new team simulation to receive feedback (and benchmark comparisons) on your teamwork behaviors. The simulation includes a real-time virtual task for you and your co-workers. You have to solve collaboratively an organizational problem. The simulation takes 60 minutes. You should only run the activity if you and your co-workers can commit to that time. By engaging in this simulation you will better understand the role of communication and coordination in your team. If you run this activity, you will also help the researchers from the Centre for Transformative Work Design to conduct their research. Find out more MORE INSTRUMENTS COMING SOON

  • Training | For individuals

    1 SMART Work Design Training For individual learners Curtin Credential: Motivation at Work Read More for individuals (Online) Motivate your workplace post-pandemic using the latest theories, strategies and tools. This credential analyses what drives people to work well, and teaches you the contemporary theory and practical skills to increase motivation in your workplace. You’ll be introduced to Self-Determination Theory and understand how to apply its principles to enhance employee well-being and productivity in your organisation. Facilitator: John Curtin Distinguished Professor Marylène Gagné Register your expression of interest for 2025 Curtin Credential: SMART Work Design Read More for individuals (Online) How can we rethink the way we work to increase job satisfaction and the wellbeing of employees, and improve productivity? You will explore the SMART framework to create and redesign jobs to increase satisfaction, reduce stress and lead to a flourishing organisation. Facilitator: Dr Cheryl Yam and Dr Madison Kho Register your expression of interest for 2025 Browse more workshops

  • The 2024 Work Design Conference | Work Design Research

    The 2024 Work Design Conference PAST CONFERENCE Work Design for Success: Innovative Research and Leading-Edge Practice | The 2024 Centre for Transformative Work Design Conference We would like thank all attendees, speakers, volunteers and sponsors for the resounding success of the inaugural 2024 Centre for Transformative Work Design Conference. Perth, Western Australia | 13-14 February 2024 QUICK LINKS Conference recordings Event photos Sponsors Contact us CONFERENCE INFORMATION Conference booklet Attendee information Purchase conference recording $300 AUD 6-months access (1 October 2024 - 1 April 2025) Purchase access Access to conference recordings 2-days Post conference summary 1st work design conference in the world Spanning over 2-days with 1 additional day of pre-conference workshops Over 110+ presenters From expert academics and industry leaders 350 attendees 52% academics, 33% industry members and 15% government representatives From 15+ countries Connecting a global auidence 80+ presentations Shaping the future of work 100% of attendees are interested in attending a future CTWD conference Event photos River dinner cruise Want to see more photos from the event? Get behind the scenes to view and download all photos from the conference or the Swan River dinner cruise Main conference photos River dinner cruise Our conference speakers Speaker Prof Sharon Parker Curtin University Speaker Prof Evangelia Demerouti Eindhoven University of Technology Speaker Prof Arnold Bakker Erasmus University Rotterdam Speaker Prof Karina Jorritsma Curtin University Speaker Prof Maureen Dollard University of South Australia Speaker Dave Burroughs Chief Mental Health Officer Westpac Group Speaker Jim Kelly Director Health and Safe Design SafeWork NSW Speaker Prof Maria Tims Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Guest speaker Prof Mo Wang University of Florida Guest speaker Rob Baker Tailored Thinking Guest speaker Prof Fred Zijlstra Maastricht University Key dates and conference materials 12 February 2024 Optional pre-conference workshops and networking sundowner 13 February 2024 Main conference and conference dinner cruise 14 February 2024 Main conference Some of the topics we covered The SMART Work Design model Job crafting Addressing psychosocial risks Self-managing teams Work redesign Work design for AI and other digital technologies Playful work design Work design in mining, health care, aged care and more Sponsors We would like to thank our sponsors for their valuable support. That's a wrap! To learn more about accessing conference recordings, visit the link below For further information see the terms and conditions . For enquires please email CTWD-conference@curtin.edu.au . Purchase access to session recordings View the conference booklet

  • Working in Virtual Teams

    Top of Page Working in virtual teams Project Brief In a world characterized by rapid technological advancements and increasingly flexible workplaces, highly capable information and communication technologies have created the possibility of work environments strongly influenced by technology-mediated-communication. This is reflected in the high prevalence of so-called virtual teams–that is, teams working on interdependent tasks even under conditions of geographical and/or organizational dispersion. Moreover, these advancements have spurred both a societal as well as academic interest in designing future jobs and teamwork in a way that both workers and organizations can benefit from. Albeit the strong conceptual overlap of team virtuality and work design from a socio-technical systems approach, little has yet been done to build bridges between the individual-level focus on e.g., job characteristics and the team-/group-centered perspective of autonomous (virtual) work groups and socio-technical systems theory. In this research project, we aim to combine these two research streams to gain a better understanding of how team virtuality and work design affect each other as well as team - and individual-level outcomes. On 17 August 2020, our CTWD team (Dr Florian Klonek and Cecilia Runneboom) co-facilitated with Dr Lisette Kanse in a session called “Working in virtual teams” in Unit PSYC5556 (Work Design). We recorded the session and reflected on the virtual team simulation below: Contact for more information: Florian Klonek Faculty: Florian Klonek Sharon Parker Partners: Lisa Handke (Free University Berlin) Tom O’Neill (University of Calgary) Patricia Costa (University Institute of Lisbon) Lisette Kanse (UWA) Serena Wee (UWA) Publications: Klonek, F.E., Kanse, L., Wee, S., Runneboom, C., & Parker, S. (in press). Did the COVID-19 lock-down make us better at working in virtual teams? . Small Group Research. Klonek, F.E., & Parker, S. (2021). Designing SMART teamwork: How work design can boost performance in virtual teams . Organizational Dynamics. (Free publisher-copies available until April 11th 2021) Handke, L., Costa, P., Klonek, F.E., O’Neil, T., & Parker, S. (2020). Team perceived virtuality: An emergent state perspective . European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology (Advanced online publication) . Doi: 10.1080/1359432X.2020.1806921 Handke, L., Klonek, F.E., Parker, S., & Kauffeld, S. (2020). Interactive effects of team virtuality and work design on team functioning . Small Group Research , 51(1), 3-47. doi:10.1177/1046496419863490 Costa, P. L., Handke, L., & O’Neill, T. A. (2021). Are All Lockdown Teams Created Equally? Work Characteristics and Team Perceived Virtuality . Small Group Research . Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/1046496421997897 Media and Resources Radio interview Virtual teams’ can overcome barriers to thrive How you can improve the performance of your virtual team - Psychology Today article Team Virtuality and team functioning: What is it, why should we care, and what can be done about it? Video lecture Improved collaboration a pandemic "silver lining": study - HR Daily Other Projects on Team and Organisations

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The Centre for Transformative Work Design

is part of the Future of Work Institute at Curtin University.

© 2026 Centre for Transformative Work Design​​

The Centre acknowledges Whadjuk Nyungar people who remain Custodians of the lands on which we research, learn and collaborate.

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