IKEA Shop keeper: An assessment of tasks and competencies

Abstract: In this study the job of shop keeper at IKEA in Iceland was analyzed with the aim of better understanding what the job role entailed and what competencies were needed to perform it well. Questionnaires were answered by eight people connected to the job role and six interviews were performed with the current shop keepers and their supervisors. An abbreviated version of grounded theory was used for analysis which revealed several categories of tasks and competencies important to the shop keeper job role. A discrepancy between the existing written job description and the experience of the participants of the study was found as well as a difference in the experience of the different work groups involved. Suggestions were made as to what changes would benefit the selection process and what changes could be made to the job description to attempt to eliminate the discrepancy between it and the actual demands of the job.