The
Job Analysis Project requires that you interview at least 1 friend, family
member, classmate, or other incumbent who has a job (i.e., a subject matter
expert), and you will conduct a job analysis on that individual’s job. You
cannot analyze your own job, and you cannot use the same subject matter expert
as another student. Interviews can be conducted via phone, email, or in person.
Formatting must
be in 12-point Times New Roman Font with 1-inch tabs. Part 3 must be
double-spaced and use appropriate APA style with correctly formatted citations
and reference page.
**Please include previous project work with your
submission in an Appendix (i.e., SME contact information and the job
description)**
Part 1: Job-oriented job analysis
Essential
Work Behaviors and Tasks (30 points): Work behaviors are major
components of a job and are accomplished by performing a number of tasks. List
each of the essential work behaviors for the job along with their corresponding
tasks. You should include a MINIMUM of 3 duties and 15 tasks (i.e., a minimum
of 5 tasks per work behavior). An example can be found in Figure 3.10 on p. 79
of Gatewood 8th edition.
Part 2: Person-oriented job analysis
Essential
WRCs (40 points): Provide a list of the essential knowledge,
skills, abilities, and other personal characteristics required to perform the
job. You should include a MINIMUM of 5 statements for each category (15 total).
·
Knowledge: What does a
person need to know to perform the job (10)?
·
Skills: What must a
person be able to do in the job (10)?
·
Abilities: What potential
or capacity to develop skills must a person possess to perform this job
(10)?
·
Other Personal
Characteristics:
What other personal characteristics are necessary to perform the job (section
optional)?
Part 3: Discussion of your experience
conducting a job analysis
Reactions
(30 points): Provide a three-page discussion of your
experience conducting the job analysis. Your discussion must provide thoughtful
responses to the following questions/prompts, use proper APA style citations where
appropriate (e.g., bullet-point 1), and have a reference page at the end:
·
What is the purpose(s) of
conducting a job analysis (.5 page)?
·
What did you enjoy most about
conducting the job analysis (1/4 page)?
·
What was particularly difficult
about conducting the job analysis (1/4 page)?
·
Compare the information you
obtained in your job analysis to the information available on O*NET. Is the job
you analyzed typical of the occupation according to O*NET? How is it the same?
How is it different? (1/4 page)
·
Is there anything that surprised
you about your SME’s job or the O*NET job analysis (e.g., education required,
wages, job growth, work values; 1/4 page)?
·
Note: page length is the minimum,
not maximum a response can be
Suggestions
1. Look
up examples of job analysis technical reports online
2. Use
O*NET (https://www.onetonline.org/)
to get a general idea of the types of tasks and WRCs you should be identifying
but DO NOT copy them
a. Remember,
just because the same job title is used does not mean same essential tasks and
associated KSAOs identified on O*NET are relevant
3. Your
task statements should function as a record of observable
behaviors or work products
a. Do
not include thought processes, attitudes, or traits
4. During
the interview, ask for clarification if you do not understand what the SME is
saying (e.g., technical jargon)
5. Try
to only identify critical work behaviors
a. To
select the most critical work behaviors, focus on relative time, frequency,
difficulty, and consequences of errors for each task identified
6. Write
each task statement by identifying the following:
a. What
the incumbent does using an action verb (e.g., “operates,” “reads,” “cleans,”
or “checks”)
b. To
what or whom the task is done (e.g., “truck”, “valve”, or “patients”)
c. You
may also include why tasks are performed (e.g., “to locate signs of gum
disease”)
7. Use
a sufficient level of detail in your statements so that the reader would
understand what you mean (e.g., “drive a car”)
a. It
is NOT necessary to describe the step-by-step process of tasks (e.g., “opens
car door,” “inserts key into the ignition,” etc.)
b. However,
if the tasks are complex or require less well-known equipment, write statements
separately instead of “operates equipment”
8. Have
peers critique your job analyses and/or return your job analysis to the
incumbent for verification
9. Do
not wait until the last minute to begin!
Sample Interview Questions for the SME
1.
Is it okay if I record this interview and/or
take notes? THANK the interviewee.
Important Job Tasks
Describe your job in terms of
what you do.
How do you do your job? Do you
use special tools, equipment, or other sources of aid?
Of the major tasks in your job,
how much time does it take to do each one? How often do you perform each
task in a day, week, or month? How important is each task?
Work-Related Characteristics Required
Knowledge required
What subject areas are covered
by each task?
What facts or principles must
a _________ have an acquaintance with or understand in these subject
matter areas?
Describe the level, degree,
and breadth of knowledge required in these subjects.
Skills required
What activities must you perform with ease and precision?
What are the manual skills
that are required to operate the equipment or use the tools?
Abilities
required
What is the nature and level
of language ability, written or oral, required of a ________ on the job?
Are complex written or oral ideas involved in performing tasks, or do
they use simple instructional materials?
What mathematical abilities
must you have?
What reasoning or
problem-solving ability must you have?
What instructions must you
follow? Are they simple, detailed, involved, abstract?
What interpersonal abilities
are required? Any supervisory or managing abilities required?
What physical abilities, such
as strength, coordination, or visual acuity must you have?
Are
there any other abilities that I have not discussed yet that you feel are
important?
Records and Reports
What records or reports do you
prepare as part of your job?
Source of Job Information
What is the principal source of
instructions you receive for how to do your job (e.g., oral directions or
written specifications)?
Other Questions
How
long is a typical workday?
Are
there any additional elements about your job that would help me better
understand what you do? If so, please describe them.
