Some considerations:

• the extent of variety in work activities (how routine is the job?)
• whether the task sequence is provided to the worker or determined by the worker
• whether priorities are provided to the worker or the determined by the worker
• the extent to which daily work activities are disrupted
• the extent to which the worker’s own plan must be integrated into the plans of others
• the number of sources for work assignments
• the extent to which the order of those tasks sequenced by the worker makes a difference to total efficiency
• the extent to which the worker plans and organizes the work of others
• the amount of operational planning required of the worker (day-to-day planning to accomplish immediate organizational goals such as policy and program development, budgetary considerations, etc.)
• the amount of strategic planning required of the worker (long range organizational planning such as developing mission statements, broad organizational objectives, critical success indicators, business plans, etc.)

Use of Memory

This includes any significant or unusual use of memory for workers. Information being recalled by workers can be classified as either:

• semantic – word-based factual memory which is often linked to memorizing lists or steps
• episodic – personal experience-based memory which is often linked to the spontaneous recalling of an event or an action in which the worker participated

Workers remember:

• individual facts and objects as well as single events
• two or more pieces of information that must be related (e.g.) putting names to faces or objects
• procedures and techniques in which the sequence of steps is important

Memory requirements can involve:

• short term memory – minutes, hours, days (information must be rehearsed or it is lost)
• long term memory – years or longer

It is more difficult to remember a larger quantity of information. Memory-enhancing strategies can be used in the workplace to assist with information storage.

Finding Information

This involves using a variety of sources including text, people, computerized databases or information systems.