Job analysis

Job analysis involves a systematic investigation of jobs using a variety of methods, to determine essential duties,
tasks and responsibilities.

Job analysis is crucial to the identification of relevant skills and competencies. It involves obtaining objective and
verifiable information about the actual requirements of a job, and the skills and competencies required to meet
the local area and University’s needs.

Job analysis facilitates accurate recruitment and selection practices, sets standards for performance appraisals
and allows appropriate classification/reclassification of positions.

Comparing the skills possessed by employees with the results of job analysis can greatly assist in workforce
planning strategies and restructuring or redesigning jobs to reflect the requirements of the local area and/or
University-wide changes.

Key Factors in Job Analysis

Task identity:
Employees receive more satisfaction from doing a ‘whole’ piece of work. This is likely to happen when the job
has a distinct beginning and end which is clearly visible to the employee and others. It is important that
employees see the end results of the work they have produced either on their own or as a part of a team.

Variety:
Employees, who perform repetitive tasks which offer no challenge, may lose interest and become bored and
dissatisfied. Greater variety can improve interest, challenge and commitment to the task.

Variety means more than simply adding an extra but similar task. For example, processing different forms would
not make the work more meaningful as there would be no extra challenge.

Too much variety can also be frustrating and a source of conflict and dissatisfaction. The optimum amount of
variety will differ from person to person and could depend on the level of the position.

Responsibility:
Employees need to feel responsible for a significant part of the work they perform, either individually or as part of
a team. Work should be clearly identified enabling employees to see that they are personally responsible for the
successes and failures that occur as a result of their own actions. The employee should understand the
significance of the work and where it fits into the purpose of the local area and within the University.

Autonomy:
This goes hand in hand with responsibility. Employees should have some areas of decision making within the
framework of their job. Autonomy means giving more scope to employees to regulate and control their own work.

Working environment:
A job should provide a safe and healthy working environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. It
is also important to consider the types of work aids and equipment required to perform the role.

Employees need to understand their reporting relationships. For example, who does the position report to, does
the role have any direct reports, the location of the position and what hours are required.

It is important to identify who and the level of interaction that is required with key internal and external customers.
Recognition and support:
Employees need jobs that contribute to self-respect, particularly through acceptance and recognition by fellow
workers and supervisors. Jobs should permit relationships between individuals and encourage team work;
otherwise the employee can feel isolated which may result in negative feelings about their work and their work
environment.

Outcomes & performance measures:

Employees need to know what their particular targets are and how they relate to the overall operation of the local
area, the wider Division/Portfolio/Unit/ Research Institute and the University. This will involve identifying the
outcomes required of the position.

The standard of performance also needs to be identified along with performance measures. This feedback will
provide employees with an equitable capacity for ongoing learning and advancement.

Elements of Job Analysis Process (word 34kb)

Job Analysis / Design Process

Information can be sought from a number of sources and the process that is undertaken can vary depending on
the complexity of the role. A new position in a structure will require a more detailed analysis whereas an
established position may only need a review of the duties and activities.

Jobs should not be designed in isolation from other jobs within the work area. The local area, structure and
objective of the work area should be taken into account.

Sources of Data
Information associated with a job analysis can be gained from the following sources:

 supervisor/manager of the proposed/established position,

 the current incumbent (or a staff member who has undertaken the duties in
the past),
 team members of the proposed/established position,
 a staff member from another work area with a similar position,
 managers who employ similar positions,
 performance plans and key performance indicators of current incumbent,
 workforce plans,
 program timetables or customer feedback forms,
 student evaluations, and
 HR staff.

Data Gathering
In this stage the following questions should be asked:

 What are the future directions/objectives of the local area?

 What are the responsibilities of the position?
 Is the position academic or professional/general (does the role require
knowledge of the teaching and learning environment)?
 What is the length of appointment and/or service fraction?
  What are the specific tasks and how will they be done?
 Why do they need to be done?
 What impact will there be on other positions in the area?
 Where will the work be done? (physical location)
 Who are the clients and what are their needs?
 How the work is currently organised?
 Who will the position report to?
 Will any positions report to this position?
 What is the minimum knowledge and skills required to do the position?
 What equipment or working aids are required?

This information is often known but can also be obtained through research such as observation, interviews,
questionnaires, group discussion and client feedback.

Most employees want to take part in decision making about matters that affect their work. They also have
valuable information to contribute. Employees are also far more likely to act on decisions that they have had a
part in making. An interchange of ideas will allow for effective involvement and motivation.

Data Analysis
During the analysis phase the following should be included:

 Group the tasks into functional areas, eg. Process enrolment forms and
respond to student enquiries should be under the functional heading of Student
Administration.
 Eliminate all unnecessary and wasteful activities.
 Simplify unnecessarily complex activities or procedures.
 List the functional areas in order of importance.

Now that there is a description of what the job is required to do, consideration should also be given to the key
factors described earlier under Job Analysis.

 Task Identity
 Variety
 Responsibility & Autonomy
 Working Environment
 Recognition & Support
 Outcomes & Performances Measures

Formally Document and Adjust

The job is now ready to be formally documented.

As all new processes require fine-tuning and adjustment, it will be necessary to review the job, discuss the
progress and address any problematic areas that have occurred. This might best be done by staff in regular
meetings, where additional training requirements can be identified and suggestions for improved information
flows can be made.

Job Documentation
The documentation of a job is called the position description. The production of a position description should be
the culmination of the job analysis process.

The position description should provide applicants with a clear indication of the duties, accountabilities and
outcomes expected of the position. The position description is the base document used in the management of
the employee’s performance as outlined in the University’s performance management scheme.

A position description provides information relating to a role at a given point of time; however few positions
remain the same over a long period of time.

UniSA has a standard format for position descriptions. Guidelines for creating a position description are being
developed.

Job Title
The selection of a job title is important, as it provides an indication of the duties of the job, it indicates the relative
level of the job within the local area hierarchy and provides status for the employee.

Job titles should be simple and free of technical jargon. The title should be descriptive to enable the position to
be quickly identified, for example, use Administrative Officer (Post Graduate) rather than just Administrative
Officer.

Generic job titles should only be used for generic positions (Executive Officer, Head of School).

In accordance with EEO legislation, it is necessary to avoid sexist or discriminatory expressions in position titles.
Therefore, titles containing man or woman cannot be used.

Guidelines for the use of position titles are being developed.

Bibliography
"What makes jobs meaningful and satisfying?: Guide for managers and supervisors.", issued by Productivity
Promotion Council of Australia. (RMIT web site)

"Job Redesign, A Guide for Managers", Department of Employment, Education and Training, The Australian
Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1988. (RMIT web site)

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