Job Analysis 159
The following factors should be taken into consideration when decid-
ing on the most effective way to collect information:◆◆◆Location and number of incumbents. Will a particular method or proce-
dure enhance or restrict data collection because of a job ’ s location? Will
it be hazardous or too costly for an analyst to observe the job being per-
formed? In the public sector, many jobs are geographically dispersed
throughout the city, state, or country. It might be too expensive and time -
consuming for an analyst to visit and interview, for example, all of the
child - protective investigators across a state. Asking the investigators to com-
plete a questionnaire instead would be more feasible.
Work conditions and environment. Would work need to shut down dur-
ing interviews because of a dangerous working environment? Would the
incumbent or analyst be at risk if work were disrupted? Are there distrac-
tions in the work environment, such as noise, heat, hazardous materials, or
risk management requirements, that would impair the data collection?
Knowledge, technology, and personal factors. Do the knowledge, tech-
nology, or personal characteristics of the incumbents lend themselves
to a particular method or procedure? Not all jobs or aspects of jobs are
conducive to observation. A teacher ’ s classroom performance can be
observed. But what about the preparation? What would an analyst see?
Can the thought processes or the knowledge required to prepare a les-
son be observed? Other factors to consider are whether the job consists
of routine or unpredictable tasks and whether the complexity of the job
favors a particular method. Will the SME prefer a particular method?
Are there peer or organizational factors that may infl uence whether a
procedure may be effective? For example, will a group interview inhibit
employees from speaking up because they are intimidated by the pres-
ence of others? If supervisors and incumbents are asked to collaborate,
will the supervisor dominate the conversation with the analyst?◆◆◆After considering the factors just presented, the jobs to be studied need to
be identifi ed and the types of instruments that will be used to obtain rel-
evant data and information chosen. Management should notify the incum-
bents and supervisors in advance that a job analysis will be undertaken and