Session 3 - Job Analysis & Design

Question 1

what is a job?

Answer 1

a job is a group of related activities & duties that is made up of tasks

Question 2

What is a task?

Answer 2

a task is a basic element of jobs

Question 3

What is job analysis?

Answer 3

job analysis is the process of defining a job in terms of its component tasks and duties - It involves the systemic collection of job-related information

Question 4

What is the job analysis process used to develop?

Answer 4

1) job description (task requirements, duties and responsibilities)
2) job specification (person requirements, competencies job holder must have to be successful on the job)

Question 5

What does KSA stand for?

Answer 5

Knowledge (education, experience), Skills (Computer, language), Abilities (Psychomotor)

Question 6

What are competencies?

Answer 6

KSA’s, any characteristics that contribute to successful job performance

Question 7

What is the importance of job analysis to the individual?

Answer 7

Allow for growth opportunity

Question 8

What is the importance of job analysis to the organization?

Answer 8

Basis (“building block” of HRM systems

Question 9

What is the importance of job analysis to the HR professional / industrial - organizational psychologist?

Answer 9

Develop criteria for validation selection instrument (e.g. testing interviews)

Question 10

What is the importance of job analysis to socitey?

Answer 10

BFOR, pay equity

Question 11

Where did the root of job analysis come from?

Answer 11

creator is Frederick Taylor - used scientific management and time motion studies with an emphasis on efficiency (such as specialization of labor)

Question 12

What are some trends affecting HRM?

Answer 12

Changing demographics, technological advances, Globalization, hollowing, emphasis on intellectual capital

Question 13

What is meant by “changing demographics”?

Answer 13

Aging workforce, increasing workforce diversity, Millennials, students delaying work for higher education

Question 14

What is meant by “technological advances”?

Answer 14

Deskilling, creation of knowledge worker (creative class), telecommuting and distributed work

Question 15

What is meant by “globalization”?

Answer 15

outsourcing and offshoring, global workforce, global careers

Question 16

What are the steps in conducting a job analysis?

Answer 16

1) Preparation for job analysis - what jobs exist within the organization/what jobs need to be analyzed
2) Collect job analysis information - background info/ choose data collection method
3) Use job analysis information - job description/develop HRM system

Question 17

What are some examples of the uses of job analysis?

Answer 17

1) Minimum Qualification (MQ)
2) Job evaluation in designing compensation system
3) Pay equity determination

Question 18

What are 3 job analysis approaches?

Answer 18

1) Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ)
2) Functional Job Analysis
3) Critical Incident Approach

Question 19

What are 5 job characteristics that provide intrinsic motivation?

Answer 19

1) Task identity
2) Task significance
3) Skill variety
4) Job autonomy
5) Feedback

Question 20

What are some problems with job descriptions?

Answer 20

1) become out of date
2) do not contain standards of performance
3) do not adequately capture the complete requirements and complexity within a job

Question 21

what is job design?

Answer 21

is the process of defining and arranging tasks, roles, and other processes to achieve employee goals and organizational effectiveness

Question 22

What is the job characteristics model?

Answer 22

is an approach to job design that recognizes the link between motivational factors and components of the job to achieve improved work performance and job satisfaction

Question 23

What are the 5 job characteristics in this model that should be considered when designing job

Answer 23

1) skill variety
2) Task identity
3) Task significance
4) Autonomy
5) Feedback

Question 24

What is employee empowerment?

Answer 24

Is a technique for involving employees in their work through a process of inclusion