People spend a great deal of time on the job, and it is important, especially in venture capital to design jobs so that individuals feel good about their work. This requires an appropriate job structure in terms of content, function and relationships.

The focus of job design is on the individual position or on work groups. First, individual jobs are enriched by putting tasks into natural work units. This means putting tasks that are related into one category and assigning an individual to carry out these tasks. A second approach used in venture capital jobs is to combine several tasks into one job. For example, rather than having the tasks of assembling a water pump carried out by several people on the assembly line, workstations can be established with individuals doing the whole task of putting the unit together and even testing it.

Also, establishing direct relationships with the customer or client can enrich venture capital jobs. A systems analyst may present findings and recommendations directly to the managers involved in the systems change rather than reporting to a superior, who would then make recommendations to top management. Prompt and specific feedback is built into the system whenever appropriate. Venture capital jobs can also be enriched through vertical job loading that increases individual?s responsibility for planning, doing and controlling their job.

Similar arguments can be made for improving the design of jobs for work teams. Jobs should be designed so that groups have a complete task to perform. Moreover, teams may be given authority and freedom to decide how well the jobs shall be performed, giving the groups a great deal of autonomy. Within the team, individuals can be trained so that they rotate to different jobs within the group. Finally, rewards may be administered on the basis of group performance that tends to induce cooperation rather than competition among team members.