JOB ANALYSIS PROJECT
100 POINTS
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 5 duties and 25 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 10 statements for each category (40 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 (10)?
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 (1 page)?
· What did you enjoy most about conducting the job analysis (.5 page)?
· What was particularly difficult about conducting the job analysis (.5 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? (.5 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; .5 page)?
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
1. Describe your job in terms of what you do.
2. How do you do your job? Do you use special tools, equipment, or other sources of aid?
3. 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
1. Knowledge required
a. What subject areas are covered by each task?
b. What facts or principles must a _________ have an acquaintance with or understand in these subject matter areas?
c. Describe the level, degree, and breadth of knowledge required in these subjects.
2. Skills required
a. What activities must you perform with ease and precision?
b. What are the manual skills that are required to operate the equipment or use the tools?
3. Abilities required
a. 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?
b. What mathematical abilities must you have?
c. What reasoning or problem-solving ability must you have?
d. What instructions must you follow? Are they simple, detailed, involved, abstract?
e. What interpersonal abilities are required? Any supervisory or managing abilities required?
f. What physical abilities, such as strength, coordination, or visual acuity must you have?
g. Are there any other abilities that I have not discussed yet that you feel are important?
Records and Reports
1. What records or reports do you prepare as part of your job?
Source of Job Information
1. What is the principal source of instructions you receive for how to do your job (e.g., oral directions or written specifications)?
Other Questions
1. How long is a typical workday?
2.
Are there any additional elements about your job that would help me better understand what you do? If so, please describe them.
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