Assignment 1: Job Analysis (40 Points)
You will be performing a job analysis (task analysis inventory) of a fairly simple job. You must not analyze
your own job. You must interview and observe an individual at work and also collect any existing written
information on the position. This assignment will be 4 to 5 pages in length and should be submitted as a
Word file. The first page will be an APA (6th) cover sheet; the second (and third if needed) will be the
double-spaced task analysis inventory (items should be numbered). The final two or more pages should
include detailed recommendations (as if you were a consultant) for the owner or manager on how to make
the job more effective or efficient (such as redesign job or certain tasks, add training programs, improve
communication, and reorganize management structure).
Step 1: Data Collection
The first step in preparing a task inventory for this assignment is to collect data. You need to identify a
person to interview and observe. It works best to choose a job that has viable duties (not a manager who
thinks at his/her desk.) You cannot do your own position unless there is a particular reason for this and
there are others you can observe and interview. You can use this information to prepare a job task list
(task analysis inventory), make a list of problems or weaknesses that currently exist and put together a
paper on your recommendations to redesign the job for more effective or efficient performance.
1. Interviews: The interview method assists you in gathering information directly from people in the
workplace or people connected in various ways to the organization and its processes either in person, by
phone, or in groups.
2. Observations: Observing people at work will give you a great deal of information about the job, the coworker and the work environment. Observing people effectively takes a great deal of skill. Of course the
longer you observe the more information you can collect. You need to be able to tell the difference
between behaviors that:
Add something of value to the product or services of process
Add nothing (waste of a worker’s effort or time)
Are linked and ordered in meaningful ways
Take away from the value of the product or service or process (mistakes, negative remarks,
interfering with others at work and so forth)
3. Organization Records: These include all of the paperwork that is used for everyday occurrences. This
can include employee turnover, absenteeism, grievances filed, performance specifics, policy manuals,
current job descriptions and information, procedure manuals, interoffice memos, handouts used for
department meetings, current training program information, registration forms, and all paperwork or forms
that are used and seen daily, weekly, or occasionally by the employee you are analyzing.
Step 2: Creating a Task Inventory
After you have collected data from interviews, records, observation and questionnaires – you are ready to
begin creating a task inventory of the specific position you are analyzing. A good task inventory pertains
both to the inventory as a whole and to each task statement in the inventory. The task inventory needs to
be:
1. Comprehensive: All of the employee’s work fits into one of the inventoried tasks.
2. Intermediate: A task unit of work activity is intermediate in specificity. It is not the step-by-step
procedure but it not too broad either.
3. Discrete: Each task is distinguishable from the others and has a definite beginning and ending.
4. Active: Each task statement contains an action verb and the object of the action.
These statements are short and right to the point. First you must collect detailed data about the job and
then create the task inventory. For this assignment the task lists should be between 15-25 items. Some
examples of tasks are as follows:
Write repair order
Prepare site
Collect appropriate tools
Unpack equipment
Return customer calls
Check for proper press fit
Perform adjustments for press fit
Recommend spare parts
Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical and pneumatic problems
Communicate service work
