Organizing a Successful Workload Analysis Project

Abstract

A workload analysis can provide valuable information for administrators if it is carefully organized to engage participants and encourage honest feedback. This article describes how a department head organized and implemented a successful workload analysis in the cataloging department of a large university library. This project enabled a new department head to better understand the workload of each employee and to ensure that assignments were equitably distributed. Employees were extensively involved in planning the project, conducting the pilot study, and documenting their workloads. The results of the project were used to rebalance assignments in the department and determine cross-training needs.