JOB ANALYSIS
267
in terms of the concrete and measurable facts which
characterize it, and in terms of specific ability rather than
in terms of vaguely defined and unmeasurable personal
qualities. That this has been done needs little further
demonstration. The items contained in the outline are
concrete and measurable, and concern the job which is
relatively fixed rather than the individual applicants
whose number and variety are legion. It may be insisted
that education and experience are strictly personal
and general characteristics. Not in the sense in
which they are used here. It is the job which requires a
minimum of ability such as is supposed to be concomitant
with a certain education and experience; and when this
minimum has been determined, it is possible to measure,
either by tests or by a well-prepared set of questions,
approximately how far these minimum essentials are
present in a given applicant. In some cases, a diploma
or an apprenticeship certificate are sufficient guarantee
that the applicant has the education required by a given
job. Where a job requires specific ability in the various
branches of English, mathematics, and other subjects
which are acquired more or less thoroughly in school,
tests given under psychological conditions can definitely
determine to what extent the applicant possesses the
necessary abilities.
The question which still remains to be answered in the
practical carrying out of this work is: Who shall make this
analysis? It stands to reason that this should be done by
those who are most familiar with the jobs, and that is the
various foremen or overseers. In this way, that knowledge
which has been lost to the employment office through
centralization will be to some extent regained. It is
claimed, and with evident justice, that the foreman is
