Chapter 04: Job Analysis and Job Design
129. Compare and contrast two approaches to job analysis: (1) the position analysis questionnaire (PAQ); and (2) the
critical incident technique (CIT).
PAQ is a worker-oriented approach. The questionnaire covers approximately 300 tasks and asks the analyst to
indicate the degree to which each task is involved in performing a particular job.
CIT seeks to identify critical job tasks that lead to job success. These data are collected through interviews
with employees and supervisors or through self-report statements written by job incumbents. After data are
collected, the job analyst will analyze the data to pinpoint important behaviors for a job analysis.
130. Identify and explain the various sections of a job description.
Although there is no standard format for job descriptions, typically they contain:
• Job Title: The job title identifies the job and gives some indication of the duties entailed in the job. It
is also of psychological value to the employee, providing status and “worth.“
• Job Identification Section: This section includes the department in which the job is organizationally
connected, to whom the jobholder reports, and the date of the last revision. It may also contain a
payroll code or other relevant information having to do with where the job fits within the organization.
• Tasks, Duties, and Responsibilities Section: This section arranges statements of job duties, typically in
their order of importance. Statements indicate the responsibilities and results expected from the duties.
The section may only contain duties and responsibilities essential to performance of the job.
• Job Specifications Section: This section contains the personal qualifications an individual must
possess to perform the job, including education or experience, special training, personal traits, etc. It
also describes the physical demands of the job, such as walking, standing, and lifting, and the
condition of the physical work environment, such as hazards encountered or unusual climactic
exposure.
131. Discuss the different forms of employee teams.
1. Cross-functional team: A group staffed with a mix of employees from an organization’s marketing,
production, and engineering departments, for example, that is formed to accomplish a specific
objective.
2. Project team: A group formed specifically to design a new product or service. Members are assigned
by their managers on the basis of their ability to contribute to the team’s success. The group normally
disbands after the task is completed.
3. Self-directed team: A group of highly trained individuals performing a set of interdependent job tasks
within a natural work unit. The team members rely on consensus type decision-making to perform
their work duties, solve problems, or deal with internal or external customers.
4. Task force team: This group is formed by management to immediately resolve a major problem.
5. Process-improvement team: A group made up of experienced people from different departments or
functions. The group is charged with improving quality, decreasing waste, or enhancing the