Job Analysis

Definition
- process used to gather
information about a job in order
to determine the duties and
nature of that job as well as the
appropriate KSAs related to the
job.

General Types

Task
Oriented
Person
Oriented

Outcomes

Job description

Job specification

Uses

Staffing activities

Wage and salary determination

Performance Appraisal decisions

Training

To develop predictors and criteria

Why interest?

Jobs not static

Uniform Guidelines Require

Determine job requirements to

establish validity

Defend against suits (e.g. EEO)

Role of Job Analysis in Human Resource Selection

Job Analysis Method
Systematic Process for
Collecting Information on the
Work-Related Aspects of a Job

Produces

Employee Specifications

Translated Into
Work-Related Information
Job Tasks, Duties, Work
Behaviors, Critical Incidents, etc.

Predictors

Translated Into
Human Attributes
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and
Other-Employee Characteristics

Inferential Leap
(1)

Selection Instruments
Tests, Employment Interviews,
Application Blanks, etc.

Inferential Leap
(2)

Criteria

Valid?

Translated Into
Employee Performance Measures
Performance Appraisals,
Productivity Assessments, etc.
Inferential Leap
(3)

Inferential Leap
(4)

Who performs job

analysis?

What jobs should be

analyzed?

Specific types of Job

Analysis
A. Interview
Group or individual
Structured or unstructured
Lacks standardization
$$$$
Distortion and exaggeration
Most widely used

Specific Types of Job

Analysis
B. Observation
Mainly for physical activity (not mgr.)

C. Diary logs
Keep track of critical incidents

Specific Types of Job

Analysis
D. Questionnaire
Prefabricated or tailored
Easily quantifiable
Lengthy?

1. The PAQ

Which method to use?

Refined and tested?

Readily acceptable?

Occupational versatility?

Standardization?

User/respondent acceptability?

Training requirements?

Which method to use?

Sample size needed?

Suitable for validation?

Reliability?

Utility in developing selection tools?

Cost?

Sources of Error

Inadequate sampling

Response set

Analyst inexperience

Job environment changes