A worker who is able to meet the challenge his job offers, might be able to have positive role
conception by having had an
opportunity to make use of his skills. Such opportunities help acquire and enhance skills in the job setting. A worker who is able to perform his role with the requisite kind of technical competence might feel secure. But otherwise, he is likely yo be haunted by a feeling of insecurity born of inadequacy of technical competence. In that way, the major link is between skills, its utilisation, the job
challenges and job rewards on the one hand, and the development of a positive role
conception leading to an overall sense of job satisfaction on the other. It is to be admitted that a positive role conception of the worker depends upon the
interaction between the
demands of the job and the
education and
skills brought to the job by the worker. Apart from the worker's expectations, the
challenges of the work assignment go to influence the level of role conception. A link between the
skill level of the job and the
challenges the job offers can be established as jobs requiring higher
skills provide opportunities for the
challenges. Since men thrive '
in meeting occupational challenges'(Kohn and Schooler 1973), jobs can be seen to have 'a substantially greater impact on men's psychological functioning than the reverse'( Kohn and Schooler 1973).
The opportunities for skill utilisation and on the job acquisition of skills are vital components, which may suffer serious constraints. The nature of operations and the technology employed may be such that they do not offer scope for the workers to try out new ideas. One consequence is a kind of negative role conception in which workers whose skills are under utilised, and who are no facing problems that come up as a challenge in their work.
In line with Quinn and Mandilovitch (1975) investigation, '
challenge index' for test of the utilisation of skills was constructed. In an effort to observe and account for the observed differences in workers' role conception, twelve questions dealing with work role are addressed to the workers through the interview schedule. The responses to these questions taken together would yield a measure of what may be termed as '
role conception'.
The importance of role conception, as derived through responses to the twelve question items as stated above,lies in the fact that it will provide us with a measure of the degree of favourableness, or otherwise, of the workers' relationship with the various elements of the work situation. It may be pointed out that the workers' role conception is determined not only in terms of the characteristics of the work situation, but also in terms of the differentiation of skills and positions relating to the workers.
We may now consider role conception in terms of the responses received from the workers to the twelve brief question items. The set of question items is given below;
1. Do you think the Company is the best place for a person in your position?
2. How secure do you feel in your job here?
3. Do you often face problems that come up as a challenge in your work?
4. What steps do you take when you are faced with such problems?
5. Is your job too routine and simple as not to call for your special abilities?
6. Does your work ever give you a chance to try our new ideas?
7. Have you enough freedom on the job?
8. Do you ever feel pushed about in your work?
9a.Do you feel you like the actual work you do?
9b.How frequently do you feel as you do?
10.How strongly do you feel that the work you do contribute to the success of the Company?
11.How whould you rate your own professional skills in relation to your work/
12. What degree of professional skill does your work demand?
(To be continued)
Reference: International Bibliography of Social Sciences: Sociology, Volume XLV 1995, page 243