Job analysis puts a job
under the microscope to reveal important details about it. Specifically, it identifies
the tasks, duties, and responsibilities of a particular job.
- A taskis a basic element of work that is a logical and necessary step in performing a job duty.
- A duty consists of one or more tasks that constitute a significant activity performed in a job.
- A responsibilityis one or several duties that identify and describe the major purpose or reason for the job’s existence.
Thus, for the job of
administrative assistant, a task might be completing a travel authorization
form, which is part of the duty to keep track of the department’s travel
expenses, which is part of the responsibility to manage the departmental
budget.
"job analysis , The systematic process of collecting information used to make decisions about jobs. Job analysis identifies the tasks, duties, and responsibilities of a particular job."
Job analysis provides
information to answer the following questions: Where does the work come from?
What machines and special equipment must be used? What knowledge, skills, and abilities
(KSAs) does the job holder need to perform the job? How much supervision is
necessary? Under what working conditions should this job be performed? What are
the performance expectations for this job? On whom must the job holders depend
to perform this job? With whom must they interact? Job analysis can answer
these questions, thereby giving managers valuable information that can help
them develop more effective HRM policies and programs, as described in the
remaining chapters of this text.