FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-18/15

Title and Subtitle: Strategic Job Analysis for the Operations Research Analyst (FV-1515) Occupation in the FAA

Report Date: September 2018

Authors: Broach D, Seemann K

Abstract: To make aviation safer and smarter, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is building on Safety Management System (SMS) principles to proactively address emerging risks by using consistent, data-informed approaches for system-level decisions through risk-based decision making (RBDM). The Operations Research Analyst (ORA; FV-1515) occupation was identified in 2014 as an occupation critical to the FAA RBDM initiative.

The purpose of this research was to describe how work in this critical occupation was likely to change over the next five to seven years as RBDM is implemented. Therefore, a strategic job analysis was conducted in 3 steps: (1) Describe the work as currently performed and the competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities) currently required ("As Is" analysis); (2) Describe the work as it is likely to be performed in the future and the competencies likely to be required ("To Be" analysis); and (3) Evaluate the gap between current and future work and competency requirements ("Gap" analysis). "As Is" Job Analysis. Current work (activity, duty, and task) and competency (knowledge, skill, ability) statements were extracted from available job documentation.

These statements were used to construct a job analysis survey of all incumbent FAA ORAs (N=174). 101 ORAs completed the job analysis survey. Twelve important, critical and/or important job activities were identified. Sixteen competencies most applicable to ORA work were identified. The analysis identified two communities of practice within the FAA: "Safety ORAs" and "Other ORAs." There was substantial overlap between the two communities in competencies. Subsequent analyses focused on the "Safety ORAs." "To Be" Job Analysis. Structured interviews were conducted with supervisory ORAs and managers (N=14).

The interview had three major components: (1) assessment of the impact of eight major industry trends on ORA work and competencies in aviation safety, (2) assessment of the impact of the industry trends on ORA job activities and identification of new activities to be performed in the future, and (3) assessment of the impact of these trends on competencies required of ORAs and identification of new competencies. The trends interviewees identified with the greatest likely impact on the ORA occupation were (A) the shift from reactive to proactive oversight of the aerospace industry and (B) integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS). "Gap Analysis." The work activities of Risk Analysis, Collaboration, and Communication are likely to become more frequent and more important over the next five to seven years (2017 to about 2021-2023). No new activities were identified by the interview respondents. In terms of competencies, Data Analysis, Risk & Hazard Analysis, and Interpersonal Relations abilities are likely to be more important in the future to ORA work. No new competency requirements were identified.

Conclusions. The work of ORAs in the future is likely to be very similar to the ORA job as it is currently performed in terms of the high-level major activities performed and competencies required. However, the analysis of risk, internal and external collaboration, communications of technical analyses and recommendations, and the use of increasingly sophisticated methods and models with ever larger and more complex data sets are expected to become more frequent and more important in the future.

Key Words: Job/Task Analysis, Operations Research Analyst Strategic Job Analysis, Risk-Based Decision Making

No. of Pages: 98