diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 98ef4386..b51da9e6 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 ## 10.1.0
-  - updated kafka client (and its dependencies) to version 2.4.1
+  - updated kafka client (and its dependencies) to version 2.4.1 ([#16](https://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-integration-kafka/pull/16))
   - added the input `client_rack` parameter to enable support for follower fetching
   - added the output `partitioner` parameter for tuning partitioning strategy
   - Refactor: normalized error logging a bit - make sure exception type is logged
   - Fix: properly handle empty ssl_endpoint_identification_algorithm [#8](https://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-integration-kafka/pull/8)
+  - Refactor : made `partition_assignment_strategy` option easier to configure by accepting simple values from an enumerated set instead of requiring lengthy class paths ([#25](https://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-integration-kafka/pull/25))
 
 ## 10.0.1
   - Fix links in changelog pointing to stand-alone plugin changelogs.
diff --git a/docs/input-kafka.asciidoc b/docs/input-kafka.asciidoc
index 3a2fdf79..7fefef1d 100644
--- a/docs/input-kafka.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/input-kafka.asciidoc
@@ -71,8 +71,7 @@ inserted into your original event, you'll have to use the `mutate` filter to man
 
 This plugin supports these configuration options plus the <<plugins-{type}s-{plugin}-common-options>> described later.
 
-NOTE: Some of these options map to a Kafka option. See the
-https://kafka.apache.org/documentation for more details.
+NOTE: Some of these options map to a Kafka option. See the https://kafka.apache.org/documentation for more details.
 
 [cols="<,<,<",options="header",]
 |=======================================================================
@@ -375,10 +374,16 @@ we haven't seen any partition leadership changes to proactively discover any new
   * Value type is <<string,string>>
   * There is no default value for this setting.
 
-The class name of the partition assignment strategy that the client uses to
-distribute partition ownership amongst consumer instances. Maps to
-the Kafka `partition.assignment.strategy` setting, which defaults to
-`org.apache.kafka.clients.consumer.RangeAssignor`.
+The name of the partition assignment strategy that the client uses to distribute
+partition ownership amongst consumer instances, supported options are:
+
+* `range`
+* `round_robin`
+* `sticky`
+* `cooperative_sticky`
+
+These map to Kafka's corresponding https://kafka.apache.org/24/javadoc/org/apache/kafka/clients/consumer/ConsumerPartitionAssignor.html[`ConsumerPartitionAssignor`]
+implementations.
 
 [id="plugins-{type}s-{plugin}-poll_timeout_ms"]
 ===== `poll_timeout_ms` 
@@ -587,8 +592,9 @@ Java Class used to deserialize the record's value
 
 A rack identifier for the Kafka consumer. 
 Used to select the physically closest rack for the consumer to read from.
-The setting corresponds with the broker config 'broker.rack'.
-Only available for Kafka 2.4.0 and higher; see https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/KAFKA/KIP-392%3A+Allow+consumers+to+fetch+from+closest+replica[KIP-392].
+The setting corresponds with Kafka's `broker.rack` configuration.
+
+NOTE: Only available for Kafka 2.4.0 and higher; see https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/KAFKA/KIP-392%3A+Allow+consumers+to+fetch+from+closest+replica[KIP-392].
 
 [id="plugins-{type}s-{plugin}-common-options"]
 include::{include_path}/{type}.asciidoc[]
diff --git a/docs/output-kafka.asciidoc b/docs/output-kafka.asciidoc
index 8f5dc53b..d903429e 100644
--- a/docs/output-kafka.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/output-kafka.asciidoc
@@ -264,9 +264,6 @@ Available options for choosing a partitioning strategy are as follows:
 * `round_robin` distributes writes to all partitions equally, regardless of `message_key`
 * `uniform_sticky` sticks to a partition for the duration of a batch than randomly picks a new one
 
-The configuration also allows setting a partitioner class name
-e.g. `org.apache.kafka.clients.producer.UniformStickyPartitioner`.
-
 [id="plugins-{type}s-{plugin}-receive_buffer_bytes"]
 ===== `receive_buffer_bytes` 
 
diff --git a/lib/logstash/inputs/kafka.rb b/lib/logstash/inputs/kafka.rb
index 14f4fd46..37107964 100644
--- a/lib/logstash/inputs/kafka.rb
+++ b/lib/logstash/inputs/kafka.rb
@@ -128,8 +128,10 @@ class LogStash::Inputs::Kafka < LogStash::Inputs::Base
   # The period of time in milliseconds after which we force a refresh of metadata even if
   # we haven't seen any partition leadership changes to proactively discover any new brokers or partitions
   config :metadata_max_age_ms, :validate => :string
-  # The class name of the partition assignment strategy that the client will use to distribute
-  # partition ownership amongst consumer instances
+  # The name of the partition assignment strategy that the client uses to distribute
+  # partition ownership amongst consumer instances, supported options are `range`,
+  # `round_robin`, `sticky` and `cooperative_sticky`
+  # (for backwards compatibility setting the class name directly is supported).
   config :partition_assignment_strategy, :validate => :string
   # The size of the TCP receive buffer (SO_RCVBUF) to use when reading data.
   config :receive_buffer_bytes, :validate => :string
@@ -310,7 +312,7 @@ def create_consumer(client_id)
       props.put(kafka::MAX_POLL_RECORDS_CONFIG, max_poll_records) unless max_poll_records.nil?
       props.put(kafka::MAX_POLL_INTERVAL_MS_CONFIG, max_poll_interval_ms) unless max_poll_interval_ms.nil?
       props.put(kafka::METADATA_MAX_AGE_CONFIG, metadata_max_age_ms) unless metadata_max_age_ms.nil?
-      props.put(kafka::PARTITION_ASSIGNMENT_STRATEGY_CONFIG, partition_assignment_strategy) unless partition_assignment_strategy.nil?
+      props.put(kafka::PARTITION_ASSIGNMENT_STRATEGY_CONFIG, partition_assignment_strategy_class) unless partition_assignment_strategy.nil?
       props.put(kafka::RECEIVE_BUFFER_CONFIG, receive_buffer_bytes) unless receive_buffer_bytes.nil?
       props.put(kafka::RECONNECT_BACKOFF_MS_CONFIG, reconnect_backoff_ms) unless reconnect_backoff_ms.nil?
       props.put(kafka::REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS_CONFIG, request_timeout_ms) unless request_timeout_ms.nil?
@@ -340,6 +342,24 @@ def create_consumer(client_id)
     end
   end
 
+  def partition_assignment_strategy_class
+    case partition_assignment_strategy
+    when 'range'
+      'org.apache.kafka.clients.consumer.RangeAssignor'
+    when 'round_robin'
+      'org.apache.kafka.clients.consumer.RoundRobinAssignor'
+    when 'sticky'
+      'org.apache.kafka.clients.consumer.StickyAssignor'
+    when 'cooperative_sticky'
+      'org.apache.kafka.clients.consumer.CooperativeStickyAssignor'
+    else
+      unless partition_assignment_strategy.index('.')
+        raise LogStash::ConfigurationError, "unsupported partition_assignment_strategy: #{partition_assignment_strategy.inspect}"
+      end
+      partition_assignment_strategy # assume a fully qualified class-name
+    end
+  end
+
   def set_trustore_keystore_config(props)
     props.put("ssl.truststore.type", ssl_truststore_type) unless ssl_truststore_type.nil?
     props.put("ssl.truststore.location", ssl_truststore_location) unless ssl_truststore_location.nil?
diff --git a/lib/logstash/outputs/kafka.rb b/lib/logstash/outputs/kafka.rb
index 43968f81..fc417552 100644
--- a/lib/logstash/outputs/kafka.rb
+++ b/lib/logstash/outputs/kafka.rb
@@ -324,8 +324,8 @@ def create_producer
       props.put(kafka::MAX_REQUEST_SIZE_CONFIG, max_request_size.to_s)
       props.put(kafka::METADATA_MAX_AGE_CONFIG, metadata_max_age_ms) unless metadata_max_age_ms.nil?
       unless partitioner.nil?
-        props.put(kafka::PARTITIONER_CLASS_CONFIG, partitioner_class = partitioner_class_name)
-        logger.debug('producer configured using partitioner', :partitioner_class => partitioner_class)
+        props.put(kafka::PARTITIONER_CLASS_CONFIG, partitioner = partitioner_class)
+        logger.debug('producer configured using partitioner', :partitioner_class => partitioner)
       end
       props.put(kafka::RECEIVE_BUFFER_CONFIG, receive_buffer_bytes.to_s) unless receive_buffer_bytes.nil?
       props.put(kafka::RECONNECT_BACKOFF_MS_CONFIG, reconnect_backoff_ms) unless reconnect_backoff_ms.nil?
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ def create_producer
     end
   end
 
-  def partitioner_class_name(partitioner = self.partitioner)
+  def partitioner_class
     case partitioner
     when 'round_robin'
       'org.apache.kafka.clients.producer.RoundRobinPartitioner'
diff --git a/spec/integration/inputs/kafka_spec.rb b/spec/integration/inputs/kafka_spec.rb
index 5b668467..d7ce7363 100644
--- a/spec/integration/inputs/kafka_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/integration/inputs/kafka_spec.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # encoding: utf-8
 require "logstash/devutils/rspec/spec_helper"
 require "logstash/inputs/kafka"
-require "digest"
 require "rspec/wait"
 
 # Please run kafka_test_setup.sh prior to executing this integration test.
@@ -12,159 +11,129 @@
   let(:group_id_3) {rand(36**8).to_s(36)}
   let(:group_id_4) {rand(36**8).to_s(36)}
   let(:group_id_5) {rand(36**8).to_s(36)}
-  let(:plain_config) { { 'topics' => ['logstash_integration_topic_plain'], 'codec' => 'plain', 'group_id' => group_id_1, 'auto_offset_reset' => 'earliest'} }
-  let(:multi_consumer_config) { plain_config.merge({"group_id" => group_id_4, "client_id" => "spec", "consumer_threads" => 3}) }
-  let(:snappy_config) { { 'topics' => ['logstash_integration_topic_snappy'], 'codec' => 'plain', 'group_id' => group_id_1, 'auto_offset_reset' => 'earliest'} }
-  let(:lz4_config) { { 'topics' => ['logstash_integration_topic_lz4'], 'codec' => 'plain', 'group_id' => group_id_1, 'auto_offset_reset' => 'earliest'} }
-  let(:pattern_config) { { 'topics_pattern' => 'logstash_integration_topic_.*', 'group_id' => group_id_2, 'codec' => 'plain', 'auto_offset_reset' => 'earliest'} }
-  let(:decorate_config) { { 'topics' => ['logstash_integration_topic_plain'], 'codec' => 'plain', 'group_id' => group_id_3, 'auto_offset_reset' => 'earliest', 'decorate_events' => true} }
-  let(:manual_commit_config) { { 'topics' => ['logstash_integration_topic_plain'], 'codec' => 'plain', 'group_id' => group_id_5, 'auto_offset_reset' => 'earliest', 'enable_auto_commit' => 'false'} }
+  let(:group_id_6) {rand(36**8).to_s(36)}
+  let(:plain_config) do
+    { 'topics' => ['logstash_integration_topic_plain'], 'codec' => 'plain', 'group_id' => group_id_1,
+      'auto_offset_reset' => 'earliest' }
+  end
+  let(:multi_consumer_config) do
+    plain_config.merge({"group_id" => group_id_4, "client_id" => "spec", "consumer_threads" => 3})
+  end
+  let(:snappy_config) do
+    { 'topics' => ['logstash_integration_topic_snappy'], 'codec' => 'plain', 'group_id' => group_id_1,
+      'auto_offset_reset' => 'earliest' }
+  end
+  let(:lz4_config) do
+    { 'topics' => ['logstash_integration_topic_lz4'], 'codec' => 'plain', 'group_id' => group_id_1,
+      'auto_offset_reset' => 'earliest' }
+  end
+  let(:pattern_config) do
+    { 'topics_pattern' => 'logstash_integration_topic_.*', 'group_id' => group_id_2, 'codec' => 'plain',
+      'auto_offset_reset' => 'earliest' }
+  end
+  let(:decorate_config) do
+    { 'topics' => ['logstash_integration_topic_plain'], 'codec' => 'plain', 'group_id' => group_id_3,
+      'auto_offset_reset' => 'earliest', 'decorate_events' => true }
+  end
+  let(:manual_commit_config) do
+    { 'topics' => ['logstash_integration_topic_plain'], 'codec' => 'plain', 'group_id' => group_id_5,
+      'auto_offset_reset' => 'earliest', 'enable_auto_commit' => 'false' }
+  end
   let(:timeout_seconds) { 30 }
   let(:num_events) { 103 }
 
   describe "#kafka-topics" do
-    def thread_it(kafka_input, queue)
-      Thread.new do
-        begin
-          kafka_input.run(queue)
-        end
-      end
-    end
 
     it "should consume all messages from plain 3-partition topic" do
-      kafka_input = LogStash::Inputs::Kafka.new(plain_config)
-      queue = Queue.new
-      t = thread_it(kafka_input, queue)
-      begin
-        t.run
-        wait(timeout_seconds).for {queue.length}.to eq(num_events)
-        expect(queue.length).to eq(num_events)
-      ensure
-        t.kill
-        t.join(30_000)
-      end
+      queue = consume_messages(plain_config, timeout: timeout_seconds, event_count: num_events)
+      expect(queue.length).to eq(num_events)
     end
 
     it "should consume all messages from snappy 3-partition topic" do
-      kafka_input = LogStash::Inputs::Kafka.new(snappy_config)
-      queue = Queue.new
-      t = thread_it(kafka_input, queue)
-      begin
-        t.run
-        wait(timeout_seconds).for {queue.length}.to eq(num_events)
-        expect(queue.length).to eq(num_events)
-      ensure
-        t.kill
-        t.join(30_000)
-      end
+      queue = consume_messages(snappy_config, timeout: timeout_seconds, event_count: num_events)
+      expect(queue.length).to eq(num_events)
     end
 
     it "should consume all messages from lz4 3-partition topic" do
-      kafka_input = LogStash::Inputs::Kafka.new(lz4_config)
-      queue = Queue.new
-      t = thread_it(kafka_input, queue)
-      begin
-        t.run
-        wait(timeout_seconds).for {queue.length}.to eq(num_events)
-        expect(queue.length).to eq(num_events)
-      ensure
-        t.kill
-        t.join(30_000)
-      end
+      queue = consume_messages(lz4_config, timeout: timeout_seconds, event_count: num_events)
+      expect(queue.length).to eq(num_events)
     end
 
     it "should consumer all messages with multiple consumers" do
-      kafka_input = LogStash::Inputs::Kafka.new(multi_consumer_config)
-      queue = Queue.new
-      t = thread_it(kafka_input, queue)
-      begin
-        t.run
-        wait(timeout_seconds).for {queue.length}.to eq(num_events)
+      consume_messages(multi_consumer_config, timeout: timeout_seconds, event_count: num_events) do |queue, kafka_input|
         expect(queue.length).to eq(num_events)
         kafka_input.kafka_consumers.each_with_index do |consumer, i|
           expect(consumer.metrics.keys.first.tags["client-id"]).to eq("spec-#{i}")
         end
-      ensure
-        t.kill
-        t.join(30_000)
       end
     end
   end
 
-  describe "#kafka-topics-pattern" do
-    def thread_it(kafka_input, queue)
-      Thread.new do
-        begin
-          kafka_input.run(queue)
-        end
-      end
-    end
-
+  context "#kafka-topics-pattern" do
     it "should consume all messages from all 3 topics" do
-      kafka_input = LogStash::Inputs::Kafka.new(pattern_config)
-      queue = Queue.new
-      t = thread_it(kafka_input, queue)
-      begin
-        t.run
-        wait(timeout_seconds).for {queue.length}.to eq(3*num_events)
-        expect(queue.length).to eq(3*num_events)
-      ensure
-        t.kill
-        t.join(30_000)
-      end
+      total_events = num_events * 3
+      queue = consume_messages(pattern_config, timeout: timeout_seconds, event_count: total_events)
+      expect(queue.length).to eq(total_events)
     end
   end
 
-  describe "#kafka-decorate" do
-    def thread_it(kafka_input, queue)
-      Thread.new do
-        begin
-          kafka_input.run(queue)
-        end
-      end
-    end
-
+  context "#kafka-decorate" do
     it "should show the right topic and group name in decorated kafka section" do
       start = LogStash::Timestamp.now.time.to_i
-      kafka_input = LogStash::Inputs::Kafka.new(decorate_config)
-      queue = Queue.new
-      t = thread_it(kafka_input, queue)
-      begin
-        t.run
-        wait(timeout_seconds).for {queue.length}.to eq(num_events)
+      consume_messages(decorate_config, timeout: timeout_seconds, event_count: num_events) do |queue, _|
         expect(queue.length).to eq(num_events)
         event = queue.shift
         expect(event.get("[@metadata][kafka][topic]")).to eq("logstash_integration_topic_plain")
         expect(event.get("[@metadata][kafka][consumer_group]")).to eq(group_id_3)
         expect(event.get("[@metadata][kafka][timestamp]")).to be >= start
-      ensure
-        t.kill
-        t.join(30_000)
       end
     end
   end
 
-  describe "#kafka-offset-commit" do
-    def thread_it(kafka_input, queue)
-      Thread.new do
-        begin
-          kafka_input.run(queue)
+  context "#kafka-offset-commit" do
+    it "should manually commit offsets" do
+      queue = consume_messages(manual_commit_config, timeout: timeout_seconds, event_count: num_events)
+      expect(queue.length).to eq(num_events)
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'setting partition_assignment_strategy' do
+    let(:test_topic) { 'logstash_integration_partitioner_topic' }
+    let(:consumer_config) do
+      plain_config.merge(
+          "topics" => [test_topic],
+          'group_id' => group_id_6,
+          "client_id" => "partition_assignment_strategy-spec",
+          "consumer_threads" => 2,
+          "partition_assignment_strategy" => partition_assignment_strategy
+      )
+    end
+    let(:partition_assignment_strategy) { nil }
+
+    # NOTE: just verify setting works, as its a bit cumbersome to do in a unit spec
+    [ 'range', 'round_robin', 'sticky', 'org.apache.kafka.clients.consumer.CooperativeStickyAssignor' ].each do |partition_assignment_strategy|
+      describe partition_assignment_strategy do
+        let(:partition_assignment_strategy) { partition_assignment_strategy }
+        it 'consumes data' do
+          consume_messages(consumer_config, timeout: false, event_count: 0)
         end
       end
     end
+  end
 
-    it "should manually commit offsets" do
-      kafka_input = LogStash::Inputs::Kafka.new(manual_commit_config)
-      queue = Queue.new
-      t = thread_it(kafka_input, queue)
-      begin
-        t.run
-        wait(timeout_seconds).for {queue.length}.to eq(num_events)
-        expect(queue.length).to eq(num_events)
-      ensure
-        t.kill
-        t.join(30_000)
-      end
+  private
+
+  def consume_messages(config, queue: Queue.new, timeout:, event_count:)
+    kafka_input = LogStash::Inputs::Kafka.new(config)
+    t = Thread.new { kafka_input.run(queue) }
+    begin
+      t.run
+      wait(timeout).for { queue.length }.to eq(event_count) unless timeout.eql?(false)
+      block_given? ? yield(queue, kafka_input) : queue
+    ensure
+      t.kill
+      t.join(30_000)
     end
   end
+
 end