A Model of Job Activity Description for

Workplace Accommodation Assessment

Joaquin Sevilla

2013 Annual Conference

21st June, 2013

Driving question

Why are we al the time reinventing the wheel in this field ?

The field of Job Accommodation

A possible answer to explore

We lack of an adequate model that help us to move from a collection of recipes to a more scientific approach

In the same way as the atomic model provided a suitable framework for a comprehensive understanding of chemical reactions… so the Holy Grail would be a “periodic table” for job accommodation assessment

Some existing models

The International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF). World Health Organization, 2001

PEO Model. Christiensen & Baum 1997

Review conclusion

In the way towards a taxonomy of all the aspects taking place in job performance,

job activity (the occupation) is not well covered

Person and environment can be more accurately described by the ICF

Models for job description

There are different approaches.None was derived for accommodation purposes

What really is “activity”?

There is not a well defined set of terms to describe “what someone is doing” unambiguously :

TaskActivityAction…

The proposed idea

Level Name Characteristic (definition)

3 Job Family General clases of occupations

JD 2 Occupation type of job, across companies

1 Job title A job in a company

0 Position A particular person in a job

-1 Activity responsibility assigned

JA -2 Task Action with an objective

-3 Task(F) Body function stated activity

-4 Task(S) Bosy structure stated activity

Abstract construct

Generic activity

Real Job-specific activity

Act

ivit

yJo

b d

escr

ipti

on

Loosing particularity

Loosing job specificity

A structured hierarchy of levels

The final version resumes -3 and -4 in a single level, it was really difficult to tell…

Level 0 Level -1 Level -2 Level -2

Position Activity Task Tasks

Reach the entrance mailbox

Open the mailbox

Take the letters pack

Reach to the desk (with the pack)

Place pack on the table

Sit by the table

Pick one envelop (*)

Read recipient name

Verify is correct

Place the envelop in its place on the table

(goto next envelop)

Stand up

Walk to the other side of the desk

Pic the pack of letter to one person

Place it in its mail box

(go to next pack)

[End task]

Outcoming mail

sending

Others

Task (Lv -2) Task(F) (Lv -3)

Extend arm

Touch envelop with the finger

Drag the envelop

Close thumb toward fingers

Clamp the letter

Close elbow approaching letter to face

Office

Assistant

xyz

Incoming mail

delivery

Receiving incoming

mail

Sorting incoming

mail

deliver incoming

mial

(*) Pick one

envelop

Level 0 Level -1 Level -2 Level -2

Position Activities Task Task

Prepare fried onionPick onions from the

container Find a knife

Prepare fired bacon Peal onions Find a chopping table

Prepare sandwiches Chop onions place onion in chop. t.

Pack sandwiches Turn on fitrrplace Cut both tops

Prepare salads Place pan on fireplace

turn onion and place

standing on the chopping

table

Prepare sauces place oil on the panCut vertically the outer

layers

Prepare fruit chunksDecide adequate

temperature

Strip off the rest of the

outer layers

Maintain filled the fruit and

vegetable containersPlave onion on the pan

Keep kitchenstore

organizedStirr

Indicate low stocks when

happensDecide when it is done

Remove onion from the

pan

Level 3 Job

Family (from

O*Net)

Food Preparation and

Serving Related

Level 2

Occupation (from

O*Net)

35-2021.00 - Food

Preparation Workers

Kitchen assistant

Level Name Characteristic (definition)

3 Job Family General clases of occupations

JD 2 Occupation type of job, across companies

1 Job title A job in a company

0 Position A particular person in a job

-1 Activity responsibility assigned

JA -2 Task Action with an objective

-3 Task(F) Body function stated activity

-4 Task(S) Bosy structure stated activity

Level -2 complexity

What is this useful for?

I. Standardization of AssessmentsII. CompatibilityIII. Identification of intervention domains

What is this useful for? I.

Standardization of Assessments

Would require further work to create a real taxonomy over the model structure (like growing leaves in branches)

It appears a difficult task…

PEO Model Level Name ICF Model

3 Job Family

2 Occupation

1 Job title

Occupation 0 Position

Person -1 Activity Activity

Environment -2 Task Contextual factors

-3 Task(F) Body functions

-4 Task(S) Body structure

What is this useful for? II.

Crosswalks with previous models

Compatibility. The proposed model is a structure superimposed to procedures already being used

What is this useful for? III.

Identification of intervention domains:-Organizational-Personal-Environmental-Clinical

Work organization, independent of workers and environments that takes into account functional diversity, a kind of Universally Designed Workplace (levels 1, 0)

Typical accommodation considering details of person and environment (levels -1, -2)

Restoration of structural capacity or function improvement derived from medical intervention or rehabilitation (levels -3)

Conclusions

• To improve accommodation assessment standardization, an Activity Taxonomy is needed

• The proposed model reduces the problem and formulate it in clear terms

• But it is not solved (level -2 remains too complex)

• The organizational level of intervention (Universally designed workplaces) is an interesting finding

An applied, scientific publication in the interdisciplinary field

of technology for people with disabilities

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