Which statement correctly describes task identity, task significance, and autonomy in job design?

• A. Task identity is completing a whole piece of work; task significance is impact on others; autonomy is freedom to plan and execute tasks.
• B. Task identity = group membership; Task significance = pay; Autonomy = schedule independence.
• C. Task identity = job title; Task significance = company profits; Autonomy = control over hiring.
• D. Task identity = product quality; Task significance = customer satisfaction; Autonomy = micro-management.

Answer: (D)

In job design, three key elements shape how motivating a job is: task identity, task significance, and autonomy. Task identity is about seeing a project through from start to finish—the job should involve completing a whole piece of work, not just a fragment. Task significance measures the job’s impact on other people; it’s about how the outcomes affect colleagues, customers, or the broader organization. Autonomy refers to the freedom to decide when and how to carry out tasks—the level of discretion in planning and executing work, not being micromanaged.

The statement that best captures these definitions describes task identity as completing a whole piece of work, task significance as the impact on others, and autonomy as the freedom to plan and execute tasks. The other options mix these terms with unrelated ideas (like pay, title, profits, or micromanagement), which don’t align with how these dimensions are defined in job design.