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DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributorMulti-disciplinary Studiesen_US
dc.contributorDepartment of Managementen_US
dc.creatorYip, Suk-yee Gladys-
dc.identifier.urihttps://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/847-
dc.languageEnglishen_US
dc.publisherHong Kong Polytechnic University-
dc.rightsAll rights reserveden_US
dc.titleThe impact of automation in clinical laboratories on job characteristics and job satisfaction of biomedical technologists and techniciansen_US
dcterms.abstractBackground The advancement in engineering and information technology has triggered the replacement of much manual work by automation. In clinical laboratories, there is huge investment in automation. Laboratory automation has replaced much manual analytical job by autoanalysers, or robotics. The job nature of biomedical staff in clinical laboratory seems to change. Besides increasing productivity and quality, automation also has strong impact in the organization and employee. Since much attention has been paid to the benefit of automation from engineering point of view, we cannot ignore its impact on human. The change in job nature will have impact on human side and it may affect the job satisfaction of the employee. Objectives This study aims to examine the impact of automation on job dimensions of the laboratory technical work and the relationships between the outcome of this impact and job satisfaction. Method It was a survey by sending questionnaire. It was conducted in ten clinical laboratories of Hong Kong Hospital Authority. Four hundred and eighty-five biomedical technologists and technicians were recruited by convenience sampling and questionnaires had been sent to them. Within six weeks, three hundred and eighteen questionnaires were returned. Using the Job Diagnostic Survey and modified Job Descriptive Index, they were surveyed to investigate their perceptions of the impact of automation on job characteristics and job satisfaction. Hypotheses were tested to examine if 'automation has impact on job dimensions' and if there is 'correlation of job dimensions and job satisfaction'. Findings The results showed that automation had increased the work content and work were more enriched after automation. 'Task significance' had the strongest impact and 'feedback' and 'autonomy' had the weakest impact. And not all the job dimensions were correlated with all aspects of job satisfaction. Only the 'work' aspect of job satisfaction was correlated with all the job dimensions. It was also found that the biomedical staff was quite dissatisfied in 'career' aspect. Furthermore, 'work' and 'career' aspects had strong correlation with 'working year. Conclusion As the findings indicated that 'task identity', 'feedback' and 'autonomy' had strong correlation with job satisfaction, it was recommended that when implementing automation and doing job redesign, increase in these three job dimensions can effectively increase job satisfaction.en_US
dcterms.extentvii, 75 leaves : ill. ; 30 cmen_US
dcterms.isPartOfPolyU Electronic Thesesen_US
dcterms.issued2001en_US
dcterms.educationalLevelAll Masteren_US
dcterms.educationalLevelM.Sc.en_US
dcterms.LCSHBiomedical technicians -- Job satisfaction -- China -- Hong Kongen_US
dcterms.LCSHPathological laboratories -- China -- Hong Kong -- Automationen_US
dcterms.LCSHHong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertationsen_US
dcterms.accessRightsrestricted accessen_US

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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/847