I have often said that the typical job description is useless. Maybe not legally, but technically, useless. To make my point, just go to the job postings on Monster.com and read a few if you can stay awake or not become nauseous from the corporate barfing that goes on there.
The reason job descriptions are useless (okay, I will back off a little) or nearly useless is that they rarely have key accountabilities attached and when they do those are almost never objectively measured.
But there is something else that is missing and I would encourage you to watch this video of Barry Schwartz, Dorwin Cartwright Professor of Social Theory and Social Action at Swarthmore College, and author of some of my favorite books, including “The Paradox of Choice – Why More is Less”. The video was taped at TED-2009 in Long Beach, CA. It can be seen here at TED.com as well.
The entire message is compelling, but the most compelling with respect to job descriptions is in the first few minutes. Barry talks about ‘Wisdom’ on the job in one of the most clear and succinct presentations I have ever seen.
Bart Gragg
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Good article