A JOB ANALYSIS OF A COMPLEX UTILIZATION FIELD: THE R AND D MANAGEMENT OFFICER

Using data collection procedures developed for airman career fields, the 6 specialties in the R and D Management Utilization Field were surveyed. A job inventory composed of 373 task statements and a Background Information Sheet was developed and mailed to all Air Force R and D Management officers. Analysis of 825 completed inventories by an iterative grouping technique allocated 675 of the officers jobs to 27 job types, each including at least 5 jobs. The dominant job type R and D Manager included nearly half of the R and D management officers. Most of the job types cut across grade levels and organization levels. Reported minimum academic requirements were a bachelors degree with major in science or engineering. Some officers considered graduate training in management or administration desirable and some suggested additional experience in operational commands. The incumbent officers averaged more experience and education than they judged to be minimal. An appendix gives the computer printouts of job descriptions for two of the identified job types R and D Project Staff Officer, Foreign Technology Staff Officer.