[MBA] What is the difference between job design and job analysis? ...

[MBA] What is the difference between job design and job analysis?  ...

What is the difference between job design and job analysis? Why is it important for a manager to understand both concepts?

Job analysis is the process that identifies tasks, duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, skill and knowledge etc. for an individual for a job. Job analysis is done for recruitment, to evaluation the employee's need of training and evaluation. On the other hand Job design is allocation of tasks to an employee or group of employees in an organization. Job design determines those job, tasks and responsibilities and employee (group) have to perform.

Job design and Job analysis differs not only on their purpose of creation but also their timing of performing. That means Job design is performed before Job analysis. Job analysis is performed when new job is created or job nature and method is changed due to change in technology or requirements. Job design mainly focuses on work division and effective performance of tasks and job completion whereas Job analysis is about effective and appropriate selection of candidates. Job design attempts to implement the available manpower effectively and efficiently but Job analysis deals with the required skills, qualification of employees who are to be assigned tasks. Job analysis covers wide range of information viz. Job description, Job Specification, Job Design, Recruitment and Selection process, Compensation and remunerating employees.  Job analysis defines about evaluation of employees too. Job design deals with business objectives and structuring works.

From the eye of a manager in an organization, effective selection of candidates is important. Right person for right job and right job for right person is very important. Manger will fail if they tries to turn donkey to horse that means manager should know the skill, knowledge of individual. If manger fails on Job analysis then it is highly probable that wrong person are recruited and selected. Selection of wrong person will make job design complex. Proper job design is required for achieving maximum efficiency, to achieve organization goals. So if manger don't have proper knowledge of Job Design and Job Analysis he cannot decide appropriateness of a candidate/employee and cannot assign job properly so the company cannot achieve its goals.

References:

Difference Between, (2013). Difference Between Job Analysis and Job Design. Retrieved 11 September 2015, from http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-job-analysis-and-vs-job-design/

 

Lepak, D. & Gowan, M. (2010). Human resource management: Managing employees for competitive advantage. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall