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 in 
sisted that education and experience are strictly per 
sonal 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 knowl 
edge 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