Exercise: Analyze a Position Description

Review your own position description or that of an employee that you supervise. After reading the position summary, position duties and decision-making/guidelines sections, answer the following questions as they pertain to each section.

• Review the position summary:
  • Is it complete and accurate? 
  • Does it explain why the position exists (the position’s purpose) and how it contributes to the mission of the organization (the unit/college/OSU)?
• Review the position duties:
  • Are they complete and accurate? 
  • Can someone who has no prior experience with this position read it and clearly understand what the position does? 
  • Are the percentages allocated correctly? 
  • Does this position complete lead work/supervisory duties and are they listed in the position duties?
• Review the decision-making/guidelines section:
  • Does it list the primary decisions this position makes and the guidelines used to make those decisions?
  • Does is appropriately describe the autonomy and the scope of responsibility this position has?