Task Analysis

Are your company’s employee training programs as effective and efficient as they need to be?

The first step in developing effective and efficient job-task training programs begins with a complete and accurate task analysis of the job. In addition to including duties and tasks associated with the job, a complete task analysis includes additional information for each task such as:

• How critical is this task?  
• How often is it performed?  
• How difficult is it to learn to do this task?
• What’s the impact if this task is not done properly?
• Is this task something that must be addressed in training, or can we expect new-hires to be able to perform this task without training?
• Can this task be taught entirely with structured OJT, or are there principles and other background information that needs to be presented in a classroom or laboratory environment?
• Does the task require periodic “refresh” training?
• Would task performance be enhanced with the creation of job aids?

Depending upon methods used to produce a task analysis, the process can take either a few hours -or weeks and months. For many companies, the process is so laborious and time consuming, it never gets done!

I offer three solutions:

• The Technical Training Tips (specificially Tip 2 in Group 1) for those who have a need but zero budget to work with.  At least the tip will get you started in the right direction and does not cost you anything.
• Software called the Task analysis Toolkit plus a course that teaches you how to use the software in conjunction with a table-top or nominal group process to do a task analysis.  Click Here for more information on that offer .
• I can use the Task Analysis Toolkit and the nominal group process and do the task analysis for you, either on-site or remotely via web conferencing.

So what is the nominal-group or table-top process and how does it work?

In the simplest terms, a group of subject matter experts and an experienced facilitator use a combination of brainstorming and consensus decision making, along with software designed to record and massage the resulting information are brought together in a conference room setting for two or three, uninterrupted days resulting in the task analysis document.  A projector is used to display a computer screen on the wall with the subject matter experts watching the screen and working with a facilitator.

So how much would this cost? It will depend upon how much time the entire process takes. Some companies will want to stop at the end of the task analysis and structured OJT manual creation phase. This will usually take a minimum of three eight-hour days and cost $2700.00 ($900 per day). That is assuming it can be done with a combination of screen sharing software and telephone conferencing. If your company requires me to be on site, the cost is 1400.00 per day plus expenses.

Want to know more?  If so, fill out the information below and send it to me.  As soon as I look it over, I’ll give you a phone call and arrange for a demo so you (and others) can see how this process can work for your company.  The demo requires you be on a computer with internet connection and to have the required machine permissions that allow me to share my computer screen with you.  

Note: If you wish to have one or more other people to sit in on the demo, we will need to test my “screen sharing software” ahead of time to make sure your computer will allow us to connect.  If we cannot, the IT folks on your end will need to get involved.

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