Appendix A — Information Gathering Checklist

Major Responsibilities

• What is the overall purpose of the job?
• What are the major responsibilities the job is intended to achieve?
• Which are the most time-consuming?

Program or Legislative Responsibilities

• What is the incumbent’s role in administering the legislation or program?
• What is the incumbent’s role in formulating or recommending policy?

Authority and Assistance

• What are the most important decisions the incumbent makes?
• About what does the incumbent inform his/her superior before taking action?
• What are the most important recommendations the incumbent makes to his/her superior?
• What other responsibilities does the incumbent have that may not usually be associated with such a position?

Relations with Others

• To whom does the position report?
• What aspects of the environment surrounding the job make it more difficult to accomplish its objectives?
• What subordinates report to the position?
• Who else reports to the position’s immediate superior?

Hardest Part of the Job

• What are the major headaches?
• What is the greatest challenge?
• What are the most complex problems?
• What initiatives are the incumbent called upon to initiate or participate in?

Statistics on Job Dimensions

• What are the approximate numerical values of the items, which help to explain the overall size of your job?

Working Environment and Conditions

• What element of the job cannot be changed to mitigate the conditions?
• What sensitivities must the incumbent be aware of and incorporate into the work?
• Are the conditions temporary or permanent?

Core Competencies

• What issues does the incumbent have to deal with in an innovative manner?
• What is the incumbent’s role in leading the group or supporting the leadership of the organization?
• What are the different kinds of situations which the incumbent is called upon to react to or incorporate in his/her work?
• What non-verbal messages does the incumbent have to respond to in his/her work?

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