Assignment: Task Analysis
In this assignment, you will conduct a task analysis using a real organization.
Select an organization (Walmart) that you are sufficiently positioned with to get the information you need for this assignment.
It could be a company you have worked with or a nonprofit organization with which you have had some experience. It will be more difficult to complete the assignment if you select an organization where you are an outsider and unable to gather the needed information.
Then, select a job within this organization.
Remember that a job is a specific position involving the completion of specific tasks. A task is what the employee does in a specific job. A task requires specific knowledge, skills, abilities, and other considerations (KSAOs) that employees must master to be successful. For training to be successful, it must be targeted and specific. A task analysis is a means of focus. You will need to know the answers to the following questions, so choose a job in which you can gather this information: What is the job? What tasks are required for the job? Taking one task, what are the KSAOs for that task?
Using the four steps in a task analysis, in a 2- to 3-page paper, respond to the following questions. You may use either an outline or essay format:
Organization (one sentence)
What is the organization you will use for this paper?
Summarize the Business Strategy (one sentence)
What is the business strategy of this organization?
Step 1. Job: What (one sentence)
What one job would you use for your task analysis?
Step 1. Job: Why (maximum of one paragraph)
Why did you select this job for your task analysis?
Step 2. Task (minimum of one paragraph)
Develop a preliminary list of tasks performed on the job by interviewing and observing expert employees and their managers. If you are able to speak with others who have performed a task analysis on this job, feel free to include this as well.
Step 3. Validation (minimum of one paragraph)
How would you validate these tasks? You do not have to actually do this; rather, explain how you would go about doing so.
Step 4. KSAOs (minimum of one paragraph)
How would you determine the KSAOs involved in one of those tasks? You do not have to actually do this; rather, explain how you would go about doing so.
Step 5. How trainable are the KSAOs? (minimum of one paragraph for each of the following)
>How difficult is it for an employee to get those task KSAOs?
>Should the task KSAOs be a condition of employment, or should they be trained after the hire?
>Justify your answer.
