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task inventory approach to job analysis

Ronald A. Ash


Task inventories are structured job analysis questionnaires used to gather information about job components. The typical task inventory consists of task statements ( see task ) which are rated by job incumbents and/or their supervisors using one or more rating scales, and a background information section requesting such information as worker/supervisor identification, work experience, education, sex, race, wage/salary, job satisfaction, physical demands, equipment usage, management information, and any other dimension which may add depth to the analytical process. Typically, a task is defined as a collection of more elemental activities directed toward the achievement of a specific objective ( Levine, 1983 ). An example of a task statement for an accountant job might be: communicates with clients by letter or telephone in order to gather information for tax returns. A thorough job analysis will typically identify from 30 to 100 tasks of this type for a job. The rating scales used in task inventories often include a 7‐, 9‐, or 11‐point relative time spent scale, with extreme anchor points of “very much below average” and “very much above average.” US Air Force occupational analysts convert the relative time spent ratings into percentage time spent estimates which serve as their primary units of analysis. Other rating scales occasionally included in task inventories include importance ... log in or subscribe to read full text

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