What is “Job Mapping”?

Job Mapping means creating a diagram of the job in the ActionMap format, which always looks like this…

… and then, if it seems useful, extending the map to the full ActionMap method. 

A lot of value is obtained from simply creating the map.
The rest of the method can be used formally or informally to amplify and accelerate the impact of the map. 

What can be mapped?

 A “job” can be any
✅  task, role, job,
✅  project, organization, or system
that you are responsible for, involved with, or want to learn about.

How can mapping a job support all those things?

➔ Mapping a job creates much greater understanding of the job for people both outside the job and the job holder.

➔ That’s because most “job knowledge” is performance knowledge, not descriptive knowledge.

➔ A person might have learned the job through training, trial and error and practice, without ever having to describe the job in detail.

➔ It’s the difference between tying a pair of shoelaces and describing how to tie a pair of shoelaces.

➔ Expand that difference to the complexity of a contemporary knowledge work job.

➔ The knowledge is in there, it just hasn’t been expressed in an integrated description.

➔ Mapping a job captures, organizes and shares that performance knowledge.

Why does that matter?

It matters because you cannot make effective changes around a job activity without having a clear description, and thus understanding, of the activity.

What is the result of not having clear descriptions of the job activity?

Think about your personal experience when there has been a lack of clear understanding of the job.

• ■ Increased job satisfaction ❌
• ■ Reduced job stress ❌
• ■ More awareness of personal capability ❌
• ■ Greater understanding of the value being created and how to communicate it ❌
• ■ Better preparation for internal advancement ❌
• ■ Better understanding of outside job opportunities ❌
• ■ Better preparation for interviews ❌
• ■ Better recruiting, onboarding, and training ❌
• ■ Greater engagement and productivity ❌
• ■ Clearer communication between management and staff ❌
• ■ Better performance coaching ❌
• ■ Better executive coaching ❌
• ■ Better collaborative process improvement ❌
• ■ Better use of supporting tools and functions ❌

How to Map a Job – Detailed Instructions

The remainder of this page provides detailed step-by-step instructions in how to create a job map.

While everything you need is here, as of 2/24/2025 this is a work in progress.

There are two approaches to the instructions:

– “Manual Method”: creating maps using pencil and paper
– Software: creating maps using the ActionMap Toolkit software application.

Video examples of both approaches are shown below. 

You can sign up a no-credit-card free trial subscription to the ActionMap® Toolkit™ software application, and let the software assist you in learning the method for use with or without the software.

Additional instruction is available through the free online training for the software on our help site. That starts at this link.

Disclaimer: Use of this material is governed by the ActionMap Terms of Service. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute licensed professional advice. The method described is designed to influence thought processes. ActionMap is not liable for any outcomes resulting from its use.