Work Design Impact on the Performance of Pakistani Academic Librarians

• Published in: International Information and Library Review
• Main Author: Altaf A.; Masrek M.N.; Husaini H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor and Francis Ltd. 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85204787294&doi=10.1080%2f10572317.2024.2406038&partnerID=40&md5=df61a61a0a525df5e41f0612ee21ca54

The performance of academic librarians is essential to the success of universities, yet limited research has explored the impact of work design on their performance, particularly in developing countries like Pakistan. This study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between work design elements—task significance, task autonomy, task variety, and task identity—and work performance among academic librarians in Pakistan. The research objective was to assess librarians’ perceptions of their work design and performance and to explore how these perceptions influence both task and contextual performance. A quantitative approach was used, with data collected through a structured survey of academic librarians from various Pakistani universities. Statistical analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses and evaluate the relationships between work design and performance outcomes. The findings reveal a strong positive relationship between all four work design elements and both task and contextual performance. This suggests that when librarians perceive their work as meaningful, varied, and autonomous, and when they feel connected to their tasks, their performance improves. These results align with previous studies in different contexts, underscoring the importance of effective job design in enhancing employee performance. The study provides valuable insights for university administrators, library managers, and policymakers, emphasizing the need for well-structured jobs to boost librarian performance and contribute to institutional success. It also adds to the theoretical understanding of job design by applying these concepts to the academic library context in a developing country setting. © 2024 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.