Final answer:
The correct option is A). To increase employee control over their work, Melanie should implement Job enrichment, which empowers employees by expanding their job duties and providing more autonomy, leading to potentially higher job satisfaction and productivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Melanie, a manager at a contemporary business, wants her employees to have more control over their work, she should implement Job enrichment. Job enrichment involves expanding job duties to give employees more responsibility and autonomy, thus increasing their control over the work they do. This contrasts with task specialization and job simplification, which could reduce an employee's control over their work by narrowing their responsibilities. Centralization would also not be appropriate, as it involves consolidating decision-making power at the top of an organizational hierarchy, which reduces employee control at lower levels.
In the context of modern businesses and workplace satisfaction, research suggests that employees tend to be happier and more satisfied when they feel they have control over their work, can contribute to decision-making, and are not constantly under surveillance. Job enrichment aligns with this principle by empowering workers and potentially leading to higher job satisfaction and productivity.