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18 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Work-Oriented Methods |
Methods that concentrate primarily on what the worker does, including tasks, tools, machines, and work context
Primary Function: to allow the job analyst to understand what the worker does in the job and to document and communicate that understanding
Examples: Time-and-motion Studies, Functional Job Analysis, Task Inventory, Critical Incident Technique |
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Time-and-Motion Studies |
Primary goal: improve effectiveness or efficiency of job performance
Other uses: designing training programs; inferring the human abilities necessary for completing tasks
Most often used in manufacturing and construction industries
Time and efficiency are improved through a deliberate process of work, the job context, the materials input to the job, or the product output from the job
*Note that (1) Time and (2) Motion studies are separate types of studies |
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Time Study |
Directed mainly toward discovering the time taken to complete a given task or the time allocated to different tasks that comprise a job
Purpose: Time to complete a task if often used to set standard times for task completion; specifically, to describe the amount of time on various tasks for staffing purposes (ex. To tell job applicants what they spend the most time doing) or as a preliminary step (if a task is shown to be the most time consuming, those tasks will be good candidates for redesign to improve efficiency) |
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Time Study: Work Sampling |
Method of gathering observations about one or more workers over time
Process: - Create chart of all activities (tasks in the job AND reasons for not being on task) - Over time, gather frequencies for each activity (ex. 2,000 observations in 2 weeks) - Convert relative frequencies
Methods of Observation: - Hire an observer - Pictures or videotapes - Workers keep track of their own activities (not recommended since this takes and focus away from tasks) |
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Time Study: Standard Setting |
Work sampling can be used in setting standard times (expected performance tasks times for proficient workers)
- Stopwatch time study - Predetermined time systems - Industry standard data |
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Motion Study |
General philosophy: there is ONE best way to do the job given the current technology
Purpose: discover the sequence of steps (often body motions) used in completing a task
Ex. Brick layer - spread mortar onto bricks - place brick onto mortar - tap brick in place |
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Motion Study: Methods |
-Graphs and Flowcharts: task is broken down into a sequence of steps (serve meals onto plates, take plates to patients, etc.)
- Micromotion Analysis: starts with one step and breaks into elemental motions (grasp lid of container, move the lid, etc.) |
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Time-and-Motion Study: Criticisms |
- Excessive emphasis on efficiency - Excuse to hire less workers - Psychological issues (workers may not want to beat the standards because they thing management might revise the standards instead of paying the incentive; workers often consider those who set time standards as "quick checkers" |
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Functional Job Analysis (FJA) |
What gets done vs. What the worker does
Based on the premise that whatever workers do, they do in relation to: - Data: abstractions or symbols (numbers, words, blueprints) - People: people or animals - Things: tangible, real objects (computers, sacks of cement)
FJA focuses on tasks, but also provides info about worker characteristics, and working conditions
Five focus areas - Educational development - Specific vocational preparation - Aptitudes - Temperaments
Other ratings - Physical/sensory demands - Environmental conditions - Interests |
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Functional Job Analysis (FJA): Procedure |
Step 1: Job analyst gathers preliminary info about the job - Books, periodicals, other technical info available in libraries - Process descriptions such as flowcharts and org charts - Job descriptions and other technical docs prepared by trade associations, trade unions, or professional societies - Pamphlets, books, or other info prepared by various agencies of the government
Step 2: Collect data DOL Handbook Observation/Interview - Watch the worker work, and then interview the worker, the immediate supervisor, or both OR - Watch the worker and simultaneously interview the worker about what is being done EITHER WAY: Analyst is taking notes; Interview is good to get non-observable info
Fine's Current Method - Gather panel of SMEs who report how they complete their work - Translate SME sentences into task statements - Provide list of task statements for feedback from SMEs
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Functional Job Analysis (FJA): DOL's Describing the Work |
Structure - Worker functions (data, people, things) - Work fields (broad areas of work content used to classify all the jobs in the economy into a collection of 100 fields) - Methods verb (identify what the worker does) - Machines, tools, equipment, and work aids (tangible objects used by the worker to accomplish goals) - Materials, products, subject matter, and services (work outputs or immediate goals of the job) |
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Functional Job Analysis (FJA): DOL's Sentence Structure |
- Verb (what gets done) - Immediate object (What is done to) - Optional infinitive phrase (how/why the action is accomplished
Ex) Trains wild animals to entertain audience (Or "Trains baby tigers to be Krystyn's pets :) ) |
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Functional Job Analysis (FJA): Fine's Sentence Structure |
- Who? (subject) - Performs what action (action verb) - To whom or what? (object of verb) - Upon what instructions or sources of information? (phrase) - Using what tools, equipment, or work aids? (phrase) - To produce/achieve what output? (in order to...)
- Data - People - Things
- Work involvement - Reasoning development - Mathematical development - Language Development |
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Functional Job Analysis (FJA): DOL vs. Fine |
Fine's FJA: - Distinguishes not only the level of complexity of the function but also the orientation, or level of involvement with the function - Uses ratings of complexity and orientation at the task level in addition to the job level of analysis (Refer to separate flashcards for pros and cons)
DOL - Includes a number of worker attributes that are not included in Fine's FJA (temperament, etc.) |
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PFunctional Job Analysis (FJA): ro and Con of Focusing on the Task (rather than the job) |
Pro :) - Tasks communicate work better than an overall summary of the job
Con :( - More judgments must be made because only one rating of complexity must be made for each function (as tasks increase, so do number of judgments)
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Task Inventories |
Listing of all work activities performed to complete one or more jobs; each activity is commonly referred to as a task
Typically involve surveys of job experts (typically incumbents and their supervisors) who respond to list of items in various ways, such as whether they carry out the activity as part of their job
Tend to be more narrowly defined than task statements |
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Task Inventories: Survey Design |
Background Info: Job Analyst often uses many sources of info: observation, background materials, interviews
Structure of Tasks: Similar to in FJA; Verb, direct object, additional qualifying statements - Task statements entered into a survey and given to people who will respond to the statements in various ways, such as whether or not the task is a part of their job - Tasks should be written in a way understandable to respondents
Responses: - How important or significant is each task to your job? - How much time do you spend on each task? - How frequently do you perform each task? - How difficult is it to perform each task?
Demographics (examples): - experience on the job - location of the job - age - sex |
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Critical Incident Technique |
Requires SMEs to recap specific instances of worker behavior on the job
Behaviors should represent outstanding or unacceptable performance
Three piece of info: 1. Statement of the context (what led up to the behavior or the problem or the opportunity confronting the worker 2. The employee behavior itself 3. The consequences of the behavior
In Practice: - Often difficult to get SMEs to generate good critical incidents, at least initially - Should be called "behavioral examples" instead because of negative connotation with "critical incidents" |
