Review Task Statements

Review Task Statements

Critique the action verb. Is it the most accurate descriptor of what

the worker actually does?

Review the object. Does it represent the thing or person acted

upon by the worker?

Check the modifiers or qualifiers, if any. Are the correct ones used?

Are others needed? Have unnecessary modifiers, such as

"effectively" and "efficiently," been eliminated?

Constantly challenge the team to think of the most accurate and descriptive

terms. It is important to insist on precision. Remind team members that a

task statement should contain as few words as possible (usually a maximum

Use as few words as

of eight) and still be completely descriptive. Often, two or three words are

possible

sufficient.

Once the team feels comfortable with their task list, have them compare

their task list with the one you developed when reviewing the available job

information prior to the seminar. Also have them compare their list with

Conduct verification

analysis

any other task lists for similar jobs at other facilities. The purpose is to

have the team determine whether they have omitted any tasks. If so, add

them to their list.

Co-Facilitator: In the "cover letter" (refer to Segment 3, Appendix B, for

example) that will precede the typed task list, document which (if any) task

lists were used for verification analysis.

Document the

verification analysis

After all tasks have been identified, re-examine the duty areas. Each duty

area should contain at least six specific task statements. If the group can

specify only two or three tasks, the duty area should probably be combined

with another related area. Conversely, if a particular duty area results in a

large number of tasks (e.g., more than twenty), there may be justification

for dividing that large area into two duty areas.

Table-Top Job Analysis

Rev 1: December 22, 1994

Facilitator Guide

5480.20 Seminar Series

125