Job Aids vs. Instruction
Job aids fall into three categories; job aids for procedures, job aids for informing, and job aids for coaching.
When is it better to use a job aid instead of instruction? I began making a list of when I would use one over the other, but then I found some suggestions on a San Diego State University professor’s site that I liked better than mine! So here is his list of suggestions. His site has some other great resources on job aids too.
- When performance is infrequent
- When the situation is complex
- When the consequences for error are high
- When it becomes necessary to access vast or changing bodies of knowledge
- Where there is high turnover or task simplicity
- When there are not significant resources to support training
When to use Instruction
- When credibility would be damaged
- When speed/automaticity are essential to a task
- When unpredictable situations occur
- When masterful performance is needed
- When employees are unaccustomed to consulting references
- When employees are not motivated to try hard