Ninety subjects completed identical simulated maintenance tasks under two experimental conditions. In the high job structural attribute condition subjects were told that the task was high in learning new skills, responsibility, feedback, and task identity; while in the low job structural condition they were told the opposite. Results indicated the strong effect of expectancy upon task performance. Post-experimental job descriptions demonstrated that a highly significant manipulation of task dimensions was achieved. General mental ability was positively related to quantity of performance in high and low conditions. Adherence to the Protestant Work Ethic was related to quantity of performance only in the high condition, while cognitive style was related to quality of performance in both. Task satisfaction was higher for those whose preferences for job structural attributes matched their descriptions of those attributes on the maintenance task. Techniques were investigated to assign individuals to tasks to maximize criteria outcomes. Subjects were rank ordered based on individual difference variables previously found to be most predictive of quantity and quality of performance and task satisfaction. Correlations among them produced positive, negative and insignificant relationships, indicating the difficulties in simultaneously attempting to maximize several outcome variables. (Author/MV)