JOB  ANALYSIS

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the  work  of  the  employment  office.  Such  an  analysis  will
meet  the  very  objections  which  have  been  raised  to  the
alternative  proposals  in  that  it  is  economical,  substitutes
an  authoritative  analysis  for  a  casual  opinion,  and  centralizes ­
  rather  than  decentralizes  the  employment  functions. ­

There  are  several  ways  in  which  such  an  analysis  and
set  of  specifications  can  be  made.  One  of  these  is  to
describe  jobs  in  terms  of  the  human  qualities  which  are
required  in  their  performance.  This  has  been,  until  the
present  time,  the  most  prevalent  method.  It  does  not
describe  the  job  itself  but  gives  an  outline  of  the  personal ­
  qualities  which  are  considered  necessary  for  that
job.  The  job  of  a  bookkeeper,  for  instance,  is  described
as  a  job  requiring  accuracy,  patience,  application,  neatness, ­
  a  routine  temperament,  not  much  initiative  or  creative ­
  ability,  unwavering  attention,  and  so  forth.  The
job  of  tool  maker  is  described  as  one  requiring  accuracy,
patience,  application,  mechanical  ability,  not  much
initiative  or  creative  ability  (as  the  case  may  be),  steadiness, ­
  and  so  forth.  The  work  of  an  executive  is  described
as  requiring  initiative,  tact,  energy,  concentration,  creativeness, ­
  and  so  forth.  In  every  case,  the  job  is  described
in  terms  of  this  kind;  that  is,  in  terms  of  broad  human
qualities.  A  formidable  array  of  qualities  is  available  for
such  descriptions.  In  addition  to  those  already  mentioned,
the  following  are  typical  of  those  met  with:  dynamic,
static,  large-dimension  or  small-dimension  worker,  industrious, ­
  intellectual,  volitional,  manual,  deliberate,  impulsive, ­
  rapid  or  slow  in  mental  coordination,  adaptable,
self-centered,  roving,  settled,  loyal,  sincere,  directive,  dependent, ­
  responsible,  irresponsible,  phlegmatic,  live  wire,
slow  but  steady,  nervously  quick,  and  so  on  ad  infinitum.