A Job by Any Other Name

As many societies become increasingly Employee Expressive Legacy Secure Progress

afuent, more and more people have Type
the luxury of allowing work to ll a variety The Role Work is about creating Work is about improving
of roles in their lives. Studies conducted of Work something with lasting value. ones lot in life and nding
by Tamara Erickson and researchers Ken a predictable path.
Dychtwald and Bob Morison suggest
that work plays six general roles, which What Appeals Autonomy Fair, predictable rewards
correspond to six types of employees, and Engages
Entrepreneurial opportunities Concrete compensation,
based on psychodemographic character- solid benets and retirement
Creative opportunities
package
istics. Each worker segment cares deeply
Stimulating tasks that enable
about several aspects of the employee- Stability
continual learning and growth
employer relationship and little about the Structure and routine
others. Career training

Individual Expertise Risk and Reward Flexible Support Low Obligation and
and Team Success Easy Income

Work is about being a valuable Work is one of multiple Work is a source of livelihood Work is a source of
part of a winning team. opportunities to live a life lled but not yet (or not currently) immediate economic gain.
with change and excitement. a priority.

Collaboration Opportunity to improve Flexibility Jobs that are relatively

personal nances
Fun
Flexibility
Stability and structure
Opportunity to choose tasks
Opportunity to gain
and positions from a long
competence
menu of options
Opportunity to leverage
Open-ended tasks and
personal strengths
approaches to getting
work done
easy to come by
Well-dened vacation
and family benets Well-dened work routines
Well-dened work routines Lucrative compensation
the ability to plug in and out and benets packages
of tasks and assignments
Stability and security
with ease
Recognition
Virtual, asynchronous tasks
and assignments
Fun

Erickson, Tamara J., and Lynda Gratton. "What it means to work here."
Harvard Business Review 85.3 (2007): 104.