Identify Duty Areas (Step 3)

DOE-HDBK-1076-94

4.3.3 Identify Duty Areas (Step 3). The next step after defining the job is to determine

the duty areas of the job under which all specific tasks will fit. A duty area is one of the

job incumbents main functions, characterized by a grouping of closely related tasks. This

is where the brainstorming process really begins, and where the facilitator must provide

enthusiastic leadership. At this point, the team may be unsure of itself and need

considerable guidance.

For example, the team may have difficulty distinguishing between task statements and

duty areas. The facilitator should point out that each duty area can generally be broken

down into six or more task statements. Initially, it is important to get the information on

paper and on the wall, even though the facilitator is aware that revisions may occur.

Generally, there are eight to twelve duty areas common for most occupations.

However, the facilitator should continue to solicit contributions until the group feels that

they have exhausted all possibilities regardless of the number of duty areas chosen.

Near the end of this phase of the analysis, the facilitator may ask, "Can you think of

any job tasks that would not appropriately fit under one of the duty statements already on

the wall?" The existence of such job tasks suggest that another area is needed.

After about an hour of discussion, the facilitator should have listed on the left side of

the wall, in a vertical column, most of the duty areas of the job. When the contributions

appear to be exhausted, the facilitator should read each of the duty areas aloud. Then the

team should be asked if they wish to consider combining or modifying any of them. The

facilitator should restate that any duty area that cannot be subdivided into six or more

specific tasks should not remain as a separate duty area. Similarly, a single duty area

should not be so broadly stated that it contains an excessive number of tasks.

The revision process should not be belabored at this point. The team will be able to

make further changes as the analysis process continues.

Some sample duty areas include the following: