Autonomy measures the degree of freedom, independence, and discretion that the
individual has in scheduling the work and in determining the procedures to be used in
carrying out the work. When a job is high in autonomy, workers have more responsibility for
the outcome of the job than for jobs low in autonomy. Jobs high in autonomy also offer
more flexibility to employees in the performance of their tasks which offers great potential
for productivity when the unforeseen occurs or when a bottleneck develops in the task
process (Schultz, McCain & Joseph 2003). Flexibility in the performance of a task is likely
to enhance the satisfaction that employees feel in doing their work.