Global Job Task Analysis Report

Executive summary

Background

In an effort to develop a global definition and description of the practice of landscape architecture, the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) and the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) partnered to conduct a Global Job Task Analysis. Goals included:

• Better understand the profession of landscape architecture across the globe from the perspective of practitioners
• Identify how practice is similar or different globally, regionally and nationally
• Broaden the scope of the landscape architecture profession, where possible

A job task analysis (JTA) is a systematic procedure for analyzing the tasks performed by individuals in an occupation, as well as the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform those tasks.

IFLA is a nonprofit, nonpolitical, non-governmental organization that represents the world body of landscape architects through its member associations and regions and in both governmental and non-governmental organizations, such as the UN, UNESCO, UIA, etc. IFLA’s mission is to create globally sustainable and balanced living environments for the benefit of humanity worldwide.

CLARB is a nonprofit association that works to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare by establishing and promoting professional licensure standards in the United States, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands and Canada. CLARB’s mission is to design and promote landscape architectural standards.

Methods

The method used for the study was the Modified DACUM Method, a JTA process that analyzes a job role or a profession systematically. Together IFLA and CLARB established a steering committee to oversee the entire JTA process that included a focus group, online validation survey and plan for results distribution.

Results

Focus Group

The steering committee identified and brought together practicing landscape architects to participate in the initial three-day focus group, including representatives from Australia, Chile, Columbia, Croatia, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States. The goal of the focus group was to outline the initial list of job tasks and corresponding knowledge, skills and abilities.

The first focus group meeting yielded 26 specific job tasks spread across six job duties:

1. Planning
2. Inventory and Analysis
3. Design
4. Construction
5. Post-construction management
6. Landscape architecture values (subsequently removed as a duty area and changed to a separate category)

Key findings

• Landscape architects design or participate in the design of a wide variety of project types, though a majority of respondents (84.54%) had designed or participated in the design of “public and private parks, gardens, recreational space, community gathering / event spaces, playgrounds” projects. “Energy facilities” was the least represented (13.96%) project category.
• 65.74% responded that they are employed in the private sector or freelance/self-employed, and a majority of those (39.05%) reported working in a landscape architecture firm. 18.33% reported working in the public/government sector and 11.78% in academics.
• For a professional working in the field of landscape architecture, respondents ranked “Environmental Sustainability / Conservation of Nature, ” “Design with Nature / Biophilia / Biodiversity / Balanced Ecosystems” and “Social Sustainability” as the most important values.
• Respondents were asked to rank the importance and frequency of a wide range of tasks. The following tasks were ranked both Very Important and were performed Frequently or Very Frequently (with most respondents indicating Very Frequently), suggesting that these tasks are performed often and considered important by landscape architects:
  • Conduct Site Analysis (72.53% Very Important; 42.16% Very Frequently)
  • Prepare Concept Design (69.86% Very Important; 53.59% Very Frequently)
  • Conduct Design Development (Detailed Design) (67.79% Very Important; 47.33% Very Frequently)
  • Finalize Design (67.15% Very Important; 45.05% Very Frequently)
  • Finalize Construction Documents (63.04% Very Important; 38.53% Very Frequently)

Conclusion and next steps

As the first of its kind for landscape architects, the Global Job Task Analysis identified the job duties and tasks performed by landscape architects as well as the corresponding knowledge, skills and abilities required for practice. With representation from over 100 countries, IFLA and CLARB now also have a better idea of the demographic disposition of practicing landscape architects worldwide. 

To continue defining and describing the practice of landscape architecture globally, next steps include further analysis of the job duties/tasks and demographic responses by geographic region and then by country, as response rates allow.