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?

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.