Assessment 1: Job Analysis

Semester 1, 2021 - Unit 9069/10311

Weighting of final grade: 35%

Due date: 14 March 2021, 5.00pm

Learning Outcomes:

1. Synthesise information gathered from a comprehensive assessment of occupational

performance of an adult in a work setting (9069)
1. Identify and describe the impact of various contexts upon the occupational choices and
opportunities of older people (10311)

UC Graduate Attributes:
• 1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
• 1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
• 3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting
their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development

Relevant professional competencies – Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (2018):

2.1. applies current and evidence-informed knowledge of occupational therapy and other
appropriate and relevant theory in practice
2.8. reflects on practice to inform current and future reasoning and decision-making and the
integration of theory and evidence into practice
3.2. performs appropriate information gathering and assessment when identifying a client’s status
and functioning, strengths, occupational performance and goals
4.7. obtains informed consent for practice and information-sharing from the client or legal
guardian

Purposes
1) To conduct a job analysis, interview a worker, and consider aspects of work more broadly.
2) To practise your ability to analyse a person, an occupation (paid work), and an environment
and to consider how each element affects occupational participation in a work setting. It also
provides an opportunity to practise generating client-centred solutions to problems of
occupational performance.
3) To consider how broader societal contexts impact in work paid and occupational
rehabilitation strategies for workers from different age groups.

Intended audience: Professional style report. Audience could be Occupational Rehabilitation

providers, Occupational Therapists, Managers, and other related professionals.

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What is a job analysis?

In Foundations of Occupational Therapy, you learned about occupations in general, and analysed one
in particular using a given template. Now, it is time for you to learn how to analyse a different
occupation: paid work. The definition of work used by AOTA (2020) will be considered for the
purposes of the assignment:

“Labor or exertion related to the development, production, delivery, or management of

objects or services; benefits may be financial or nonfinancial (e.g., social connectedness,
contributions to society, structure and routine to daily life; Christiansen & Townsend, 2010;
Dorsey et al., 2019)” (p.33)

In particular, we will be looking at one of the aspects of work, which is “Job Performance and
Maintenance” defined by AOTA (2020) as:

“Creating, producing, and distributing products and services; maintaining required work skills
and patterns; managing time use; managing relationships with coworkers, managers, and
customers; following and providing leadership and supervision; initiating, sustaining, and
completing work; complying with work norms and procedures; seeking and responding to
feedback on performance” (p.33)

A commonly used strategy to evaluate a worker’s job performance and maintenance is called Job
Analysis. Different definitions of what constitutes a job analysis have been proposed:

“A job analysis is a systematic approach to identify and describe the demands that a job
places on a worker. It can be used to help managers in many different and useful ways. These
can include recruitment, redeployment of workers, vocational rehabilitation, retirement
planning, training and vocational counselling (United States Department of Labor [US DOL]
1991). A job description is not a job analysis. A job description only describes the functions of
a job and how it relates to other jobs in the workplace; it only lists the work that is done. A
job analysis can include the activities that the worker performs; how the work is performed;
the outcomes, services or materials produced; the skills and aptitudes that the worker
requires to perform the job; and the environment in which the work is performed (King 1998,
Havranek et al 1999)” (Joss, 2007) (p.301)

“A systematic way of describing the physical activities that a job requires (Martin & Jones,
1991, p. 2-1). An analysis of work demands (intellectual, physical, sensory and perceptual),
workstation design, equipment used and the work environment (Innes & Straker, 2002, p.56)”
(Dwyer, Ksiazkiewicz, & Moody, 2014) (p.81)

For the purposes of this assignment, the definition proposed by Joss (2007) will be in use. You must
also be aware that there is a wide range of assessment tools that can be used for job analysis
purposes.

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What do you need to do?

From your network of friends, family, and acquaintances, select and ask an adult, aged between 18 –
65 years if he or she would be willing to allow you to observe him or her at their place of paid work
while he or she is performing regular work duties. During the observation, you may also need to ask
questions and take a photograph/s and/or outline a diagram of the workstation (consider taking a
tape measure/digital camera with you). After the observation, you will need to conduct an interview
with the worker to complete the analysis. The person must be in full capacity to complete their daily
work and has not received ergonomic advice before.
When considering whom you ask to observe, please do not select someone from your own workplace
because your familiarity with the person and the workplace is likely to make it hard for you to make
an objective observation. You must observe/analyse someone working in a computer workstation
/office setting.

Ethics

- The person will need to provide you with signed written consent prior conducting the
observation and interview (form available on Canvas)
- Ask the person if you also need to apply for written consent from his or her employer to
attend the workplace and observe him/her (form available on Canvas)
- It may be likely that you will need the employer’s written consent if you need to observe,
draw the diagram of the workspace/station, or photograph (form available on Canvas) the
worker in an area that is not open to the general public.
- On Canvas (under Assessments) you will find a copy of the consent forms that covers all
contingencies that you should use:
o Worker consent
o Employer consent.
o Consent for the use of photographs/diagrams is included in both cases.

How to plan your visit to the workplace?

A statement (“Work Site Visit & Job Analysis”) describing the purpose of the visit, with some sample
questions is available on Canvas under Assessment 1. This statement can be provided to the worker
and/or the employer when enquiring if you can visit the worksite.

Allow about 30-45 minutes for your observation visit; the visit should not exceed 1 hour. Most of the
time you will be observing the worker, the equipment used, the abilities required, etc. You should also
ask questions about the work itself, and any other considerations that you will not be observing
during your visit. If you have permission, you can take some photographs of the employee performing
some of the tasks and using some equipment (de-identify the worker and the workplace, for further
clarification see Ethics). Same applies if you need to outline a diagram of the workstation/workplace.

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Preparing for and writing your report

You will be completing the “Computer Workstations eTool” developed by the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration -OSHA-, at the US Department of Labor (available at
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/checklist_evaluation.html).
For the preparatory workshop in week 3, you must:
- Review the “Computer Workstations eTool” (bring any questions you might have about the
tool)
- Have pictures of yourself at your usual workstation at home (examples will be provided in
week 2)
- Bring to class your computer and any common tools that you use while you are writing
assignments or reports (e.g. notebooks, markers, printed notes, etc.)
- Complete the require readings

In the job analysis report, you must include the following (as a single document):

Cover Page (as instructed in Unit Outline)

Part A (Masters and Bachelors):

- General overview of the worker (who is the worker: name1, age, gender, key occupations2,
training -e.g. diploma, certificate, university degree-, time working in the current role): 150
words
- Brief role description (indicate key responsibilities related to the role, usual work schedule,
critical skills or knowledge, work routine): 150 words
- Brief description of the business/company (what type of company is, which is their main
business, any relevant considerations, for example size and final products or services): 150
words

Part B (Masters and Bachelors):

- “Computer Workstations eTool” checklist completed. If a criterion was not observed or if it is
not relevant for the client, you must indicate N/A (Non-Applicable). You must complete all
criteria in the checklist. You will need to download the form, complete it and scan it to be
added to the report.
- Key considerations: qualitative notes are included as part of the observation, e.g. the worker
is in a single or a shared one. You can also review the “Purchasing Guide”
(https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/checklist_purchasing_guide.html)
which might provide further support to complete this section (150 words max)
- Diagrams/images: 2 images or diagrams are included as part of the evaluation. The diagrams
or images might portray the worker itself, the workstation, or a relevant detail (e.g. lighting).

1
Use a pseudonym
2
Besides paid work

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Part C (Masters and Bachelors):
- Recommendations: your recommendations must look at how the worker could improve their
performance at their current work.
- From those criteria identified with a “No” in the checklist, you will need to select five of them
and complete the following table, proposing appropriate recommendations for the worker. If
equipment is being recommended (e.g. a new chair), you will need to include specifications
(e.g. model), local providers (at least two) and estimated cost. Same applies if specific
training/activities are being recommended.

Criteria Recommendation Rationale Equipment/Training Provider/cost

(was (based on the (provide a brief (one piece of (details are
selected as options proposed explanation about the equipment is provided)
a No in the in the website) recommendation, based recommended)
checklist) on relevant literature)

Part D Masters:
Students must provide a critical review of two key aspects of the role of occupational therapy in
occupational rehabilitation and/or ergonomics in Australia. The review must not exceed 750 words,
and be supported by appropriate, relevant, and recent literature.

Part D Bachelors:
Using an occupational perspective, students must provide a professional reflection regarding the
potential challenges (at least one) and opportunities (at least one) for older people as part of
intergenerational workplaces in Australia. The reflection must not exceed 750 words, and be
supported by appropriate, relevant, and recent literature.

References in the report

You must use APA style 7th Ed for your references in the report. As a minimum, ten (10) occupational
therapy/occupational science peer-reviewed references are required in Parts C and D (combined). In
addition, you might require references from other disciplines, such as Ergonomics or Occupational
Health.

Please note

- There are two compulsory steps/submissions to complete for this assignment:

o Submission of the report Cover Page + Parts A, B, C, and D-all in one document- (14
March 2021, 17:00)
o Submission of signed Informed Consent(s) (14 March 2021, 17:00)

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 - There’s draft drop box for the submission of your report, in case that you want to check it for
academic integrity purposes (“URKUND - Student Text-matching Checker”). Please note that
the Urkund report may take up to 24 hrs to be sent to you after uploading your file.
- You must ensure that the final version of your report is submitted in the right drop box by the
due date and time (“Job Analysis – Drop box”).
- See specific considerations for each section of the report in the Marking Grid in Canvas.
- The signed consent form(s) (worker and employer if required)3 is/are to be submitted in the
correspondent drop-box (if the signed consent(s) is/are not provided the assessment cannot
be marked and therefore will receive NIL marks).
- Follow the ‘Requirements for assessments’ document for formatting and style. The document
is available under Assessments in Canvas.

Covid-19
Please be aware of and strictly follow all Covid-19 related recommendations for social gatherings (i.e.
while conducting the interview) and being in public spaces (i.e. while conducting the site visit).

Please note that this assignment outline is in line with the recommendations in place at the time of its
development (7th January 2021) for ACT. These recommendations might include but not be limited to,
social distancing, use of facemasks, and hand hygiene, among others. If any of these regulations have
changed (i.e. increased need for social and physical distancing) by the time of completion and
submission of the assignment, students will be required to conduct their interviews and observations
remotely (by phone, Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, or a similar platform).

For further and updated information, please review the ACT government dedicated site:
https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/ If students and/or their clients are in a different state or territory,
local regulations must be reviewed and strictly followed.

Marking grid (in Canvas)

References

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational Therapy Practice Framework:

Domain and Process 4th Ed. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Supplement_2),
7412410010p7412410011-7412410010p7412410087.
https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001
Dwyer, B., Ksiazkiewicz, L., & Moody, H. (2014). Clinical Reasoning Pathway for Job Analysis and Return
to Work. Occupational Therapy Australia
Joss, M. (2007). The Importance of Job Analysis in Occupational Therapy. British Journal of Occupational
Therapy, 70(7), 301-303. https://doi.org/10.1177/030802260707000705
Martin, L., & Jones, R. (1991). The Revised Handbook for Analyzing Jobs. US Department of Labor.
Occupational Therapy Board Australia (2018). Australian occupational therapy competency standards.
Retrieved from https://www.occupationaltherapyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines/Competencies.aspx

3
If you have any questions regarding Informed Consent(s), please email the Unit Convener before conducting
the site visit/interview.

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