According to the job characteristics model, what aspect does a professor experience when seeing the effect of their efforts on a well-educated student?

The job characteristics model highlights several core dimensions that affect employee motivation and job satisfaction. When a professor observes the positive impact of their efforts on a well-educated student, they are experiencing Task Significance. This component refers to the degree to which a job is perceived as important and valuable, not only by the employee but also in terms of its contributions to the wellbeing of others, in this case, the students.

For a professor, seeing a student succeed as a result of their teaching signifies that their role has a meaningful impact on someone's life. This sense of significance helps to enhance job satisfaction and intrinsic motivation, as it reinforces the idea that their work contributes to the greater good—educating and shaping the future. The emotional reward of knowing their efforts lead to meaningful outcomes for students is a significant motivator.

In contrast, Skill Variety involves using a range of different abilities in a job; Task Identity refers to the completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; and Feedback is about receiving clear information about performance. While these aspects can also contribute to a professor's overall job experience, they do not directly reflect the experience of witnessing the impact of their teaching efforts on student success in the same way that Task Significance does.