Final answer:
Yes, asking staff to write detailed task descriptions is a true and effective method for workflow analysis, yet it's essential to consider the reliability of self-reporting and supplement with additional job analysis methods.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, a technique for collecting information for a workflow analysis is indeed to ask staff members to write detailed descriptions of their tasks, actions, and sequences. This method is pivotal in constructing a clear picture of job roles and duties. It is part of job analysis techniques such as observations, surveys, and interviews, which are all crucial in understanding what a job entails and which skills are necessary. Collecting this information is useful for diverse purposes such as recruitment, training, and performance evaluation.
However, it's important to recognize the potential limitations of reliability when relying solely on self-reported data, as evidenced by Dierdorff & Wilson's (2003) research. To improve accuracy, it would be beneficial to complement this technique with additional methods of job analysis, like gathering information from customers, stakeholders, and experts, or conducting fieldwork that includes observation over time to mitigate the limitations of singular session observations.