Job analysis and job descriptions are important to effective human resource management.
I have found in my own jobs challenges that come with developing and maintaining job descriptions. Over the years I have worked many different jobs and have found that Job descriptions do not always grow and adapt when job roles change. Regular reviews and revisions need to be in place when job roles change, in order to keep the employee satisfied and not feeling like they are doing too much within their role. I have also found that there are difficulties when organizations try to describe a job, being specific but flexible is important when job roles are being changed. For example, in the job I work now I was originally trained as a “cashier” but I mainly just do freight where I move very large bags of dog food and other items. My original job description does not say anything but “must be able to move around 50 pounds”. This shows flexibility in order to accommodate changing job duties in the workplace. However, on the other hand not having a job description in place could present many challenges as well. This could include role confusion, where an employee does not feel confident in their responsibilities without a clear job or role description. “What if an employee’s job description and daily tasks do not match? Experts say employees should be encouraged to ask HR for a job description review if there appear to be inconsistencies between what the job description says and what they do.” (Tyler, 2023). I find myself in a spot where my daily tasks do not match my job description, and leaves me burnt out and frustrated. This also could hinder employees when gauging performance without criteria. At the job I am at I do much more than my role describes and sometimes will work in three to four different departments in a day to help out when we may be understaffed. Without a job description employees could feel frustration because they may not be recognized for the job they are doing and how they are performing those tasks. I can see how not having a solid job description could lead to confusion, inefficiency in the workplace, and legal risks.
https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/hr-magazine/job-worth-update-descriptions