What is the term for a detailed study of a job to identify the specific skills required?

• A. Task Analysis
• B. Design
• C. Competency Model
• D. The Cloud

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is identifying the exact skills a job needs by breaking the work down into its component tasks. Task analysis is the systematic study of a job that lists each task and pairs it with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform it well. This approach answers what tasks the job includes and what capabilities are needed for each task, often feeding into precise job descriptions, training plans, and selection criteria. It might involve interviewing the current workers and their supervisors, observing how tasks are done, and reviewing existing records to capture all essential activities.

For example, in a customer service role, task analysis would map tasks like answering inquiries, navigating the knowledge base, and processing orders, then specify the skills needed for each—clear communication, product knowledge, and basic data entry or IT proficiency. This is different from a competency model, which outlines a broader set of behaviors and attributes expected across many roles, or from design, which focuses on creating systems or products. The Cloud is unrelated to this job-focused analysis.