SMART Work Design: The Secret to Thriving Employees

Research consistently finds that factors associated with work and the work environment can significantly increase the likelihood of employees developing physical and mental health conditions. Unlike physical hazards (e.g. exposure to noise or asbestos), which are only present for specific roles and industries, mental health risks exist in every industry and job.

Empirical studies in the organisational context show that the increased risk to develop mental ill-health is primarily a result of poorly designed work. So how can we design work that keeps employees well?

SMART

The SMART work design model, developed by Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow Professor Sharon Parker at the Centre for Transformative Work Design (CTWD), is a framework that can be used to design healthy, meaningful and motivating work that not only keeps employees well but helps them thrive.

Based on decades of research, the SMART work design model identifies five key themes that result in thriving organisations. Focusing on SMART work design enables organisations to design engaging and enriched jobs, helping to create significant benefits for individuals, teams and organisations across jobs and industries.

The CTWD is a Research Centre where passionate Organisational Psychology researchers and professionals work together to transform work under the directorship of Professor Sharon Parker. The Centre is recognised internationally as a global leader in high quality, independent and innovative research to understand the role of work design in generating healthy and productive work.

The Centre sits within Curtin University’s newly established Future of Work Institute, which is located in the CBD of Perth in Western Australia.