4. Structures of Work

Most individuals may not realize that there exists an underlying structure that facilitates an understanding of jobs, tasks, occupations, work processes, and individual competencies. For instance, the structure of all jobs is composed of a set of duties, tasks that are related to each duty, and the component behaviors of the tasks. Understanding that these structures exist allows the analyst to engage in new situations with ease, and allows greater consistency in the way that work analysis information is reported and understood. Having the structures also facilitates an understanding of how to make best use of the information. Indeed, suggesting that these underlying structures exists is, in fact, a form of theory, and that each time a project is carried out, the theory is tested in terms of its consistency and practical usefulness. Over the past 40 years, the structures have proven to be beneficial for engaging in work analysis projects.