The Results-Oriented Distribution Workplace

Distribution jobs, whether bookkeeping, accounts receivable or auditing, are involved in a lot of detail. When distribution people are so engrossed in the details of their jobs, it's easy for them, for anyone actually, to lose sight of the job's major contribution.

A Results-Oriented Distribution Job Description is different from a traditional job description because it focuses an employee on the several job results that answer the question: What results must this distribution job accomplish for the organization?

Distribution Job Standards added to job expectations tighten management controls by clarifying how well and when results must be accomplished.

Distribution Job Objectives establish management and employee plans by highlighting important current and future results needed.

Job-specific Distribution Employee Management Forms maintain consistent and legally sound management actions by basing manager-employee interactions on job results.

The Purpose of Distribution Jobs

Stated in a results-oriented, three-line style, distribution jobs--

DELIVER PRODUCTS, MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES by

appraising current freight rates; negotiating fees and conditions of service with carriers; studying customer locations and evaluating delivery options; selecting the most advantageous method of delivery; scheduling shipments; preparing and verifying invoices; investigating causes of damage, shortages, and freight overcharges.

Types of Distribution Jobs

Some distribution jobs schedule loads, verify quantity and items, record shipments, adjustments, losses, and removal of items, review, correct, delete, or re-enter data. Other jobs only deal with exports-verifying conformity of filled orders and documentation with letters of credit, foreign import and export licenses, U.S. and foreign government regulations, and preparing export declarations and certificates of origin.

Still other jobs monitor and maintain inventory/purchasing levels and purchase inventory requirements. And, of course, somebody has to manage and supervise the distribution people and processes.

Distribution Job Management Tools

Here are actual job examples of how distribution job actions can be focused on results and kept on track using each of our job management tools:

Results-Oriented Distribution Job Descriptions form the foundation of all job management tools. Our uniquely structured job descriptions focus on the result to be accomplished first and prominently, followed by the duties performed in order to accomplish the result. For example,

RECOMMENDS DISTRIBUTION ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

Distribution Job Standards sharpen employee attention and management control by defining and communicating how well the distribution results must be accomplished and what benchmarks will be used to measure job results. For example, for the job result above, the job standards might be:

• Distribution situations are correctly understood.
• All options are identified and evaluated.
• Distribution recommendations are ready when needed.

Distribution Job Objectives point the direction for employee actions by focusing job efforts on current and future distribution issues. Job objectives are written in the three-line, results-oriented structure. For example, for the job result above, a job objective might be:

SPEED-UP DECISION MAKING by

reducing time to deliver distribution recommendations by 10% by (date).

Distribution Employee Management Forms tied specifically to each distribution job description are more helpful (and legal) than generic forms used for all different kinds of jobs. Job-specific forms are used to state job qualifications, guide job interview questions, orient new employees, plan job training, and appraise job performance.

Distribution Job Qualifications are stated in the same terms used in the job description. They are not translated into generic (typically behavioral) terms. For example:

RECOMMENDS DISTRIBUTION ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

Distribution Job Interview guide questions are inserted directly below each job result in the job description: For example:

• "What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?"
• "Where did you have these job responsibilities?"
• "When did you have these job responsibilities?"
• "How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?"
• "What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?"
• "In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?"
• "How did you overcome the challenges?"

The Distribution Job Orientation guide reformats the job description sequence so that job explanations, policies, protocols, processes, and procedures are logical and complete and can easily be checked off. For example:

RECOMMENDS DISTRIBUTION ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

The manager might say: "Here's the procedure and format we use to analyze and present distribution recommendations."

The Distribution Job Training plan guides a thorough examination of actual job knowledge, skills, and abilities as described in the job description that need improvement or that might be enhanced. For example:

RECOMMENDS DISTRIBUTION ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

The manager might say: "Analytical skills would be improved by enrolling in a statistical analysis class."

The Distribution Job Performance Appraisal guide is a job-specific form. It is not a universal form used for all jobs. The guide adds an appraisal scale below each job result in the job description so that attention can be drawn to each job requirement and expectation. For example:

RECOMMENDS DISTRIBUTION ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

__ Great! Just want we wanted.
__ We have a problem.
__ Improvement is needed.
__ Much, much more than we asked for.

Comments: _________________

Distribution Résumé Template

Potential employers want to know what a job applicant has accomplished in his/her distribution work career. They don't want to be bored with minor details. Our Résumé Template provides:

• an outline to help assemble personal background information.
• a Results-Oriented Job Description to provide the distribution job language-focused on results-needed to write an effective résumé.
• Distribution Job Objectives to orient thinking in terms of accomplishments.
• instructions on how to use a Results-Oriented Distribution Job Description and Distribution Job Objectives to express job accomplishments.

Use the distribution job description responsibility statement as a base:

RECOMMENDS DISTRIBUTION ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

Select the distribution job objective that fits your experience:

REDUCE COSTS 10% by

improving distribution processes.

Combine the two into a résumé statement:

Reduced costs 10% by analyzing, identifying, and recommending new distribution system controls.

Distribution Career Links

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks

Earnings, expected job prospects, training and education needed, what these clerks do on the job, and working conditions.

Education-Portal.com

Portal to degree programs, career information, school reviews, and education news.