Final answer:
A job analysis is essential for determining the specifics of a job and matching the right individuals to those roles, focusing on tasks involved and the characteristics required of the worker.
Step-by-step explanation:
A job analysis determines information about a job—the tasks that comprise it and the environment in which it will be performed. In the realm of industrial-organizational psychology, this process is critical for matching individuals to job tasks and ensuring they are suited for their roles within an organization. Job analysis involves a detailed description of job tasks through a task-oriented or worker-oriented approach.
The former lists the tasks and rates them based on frequency, difficulty, and importance, while the latter focuses on the worker's characteristics, such as knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required to perform the job effectively. Research suggests the reliability of a job analysis can vary based on who provides the information and how it is collected, making it clear that carefully conducted analyses are critical for successful employee selection and training.