Final answer:
High-performance work systems frequently begin with the way work is designed, focusing on specialization to improve efficiency and quality, yet are sensitive to early design decisions that can affect their success.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that high-performance work systems often start with the way work is designed. Effective work design is a foundation for creating systems that can rapidly respond to changes such as technological advancements, economic pressures, and global competition. As organizations move towards structures that facilitate work delegation to teams, there is a convergence of diverse skills that could potentially lead to innovative ways of improving productivity and quality.
When tasks and responsibilities are assigned following a well-thought-out design, workers who specialize in these tasks acquire the ability to perform them more efficiently and suggest enhancements. For instance, specialized workers like assembly line laborers, hair stylists, and heart surgeons are known to improve over time, mastering their crafts and proposing efficiency and quality improvements.
However, poor design decisions made early in the process can impede the development of a system that truly meets customer needs and adapts to the demands of a high-performance environment. A mechanized work environment that focuses on producing identical products is one outcome of a particular design approach, but it may not fit all industries or organizations in today’s rapidly changing workplace.