Characteristics, uses and implementation of job descriptions in organizations in Zimbabwe

A basic HR management tool that helps organizational and individual effectiveness is the job description. A good job description assists the employee to understand the functions of their job, their duties and responsibilities. It also helps them understand the relative importance of their duties and how they contribute to the overall achievement of the mission, goals and objectives of the organization.

A good job description is helpful to the organization in that it helps to ensure that an employee's work is well aligned with the organization's mission and objectives. Management is assisted to clearly identify the most appropriate employee for a new vacancy by using a job description. Above all most HR management activities evolve around job descriptions. Such activities include recruitment, selection, orientation, training, supervision, compensation, work plan and performance management. Job descriptions also help in legal defence in situations when an employee's contract is terminated because of poor performance.

The Zimbabwean economy is currently typified by downsizing, restructuring, company closures and retrenchments that result in challenges associated with the implementation of job descriptions. Job descriptions play a very important role in the organization as all human resources tasks revolve around them. There is need to constantly review job descriptions to make them relevant and useful to both the employee and the organization.

A job description that is well conceived and properly implemented has many benefits to both the individual employee and the organization. The key is to make most HR activities centre on job descriptions.