Activity+Task+Analysis

Four two years I worked as a hairdresser’s assistant in a hair salon. I was responsible for the execution of a variety of tasks. The various tasks are outlined in the chart below. The task that I chose to outline in the flowchart is one that has a fundamental issue. The task of sweeping the hair off the floor as soon as it falls on the floor is problematic. When the hairdressers are standing at their stations working on a client, the broom gets in the way. Also, their feet get in the way of the broom when I’m trying to remove the hair from around them. This process is outlined in the first flow chart, labeled “Task Description”. I introduced an element into the task which is to wait until the hairdresser is finished working with the client and has left his or her station. This way, I do not become a distraction to them, and they do not get in the way of me completing my task. The revised process is outlined in the second flow chart, labeled “Revised Task Description”. -To remove colour from clients’ hair || -To maintain general aesthetic of the salon || -To maintain cleanliness and hygiene of the bathrooms || -The client cannot leave the salon with wet hair || -Keep towels clean for their various uses || · -Must wash clients’ hair so their hair is wet and clean when the hairdresser cuts it || -Sweeping the hair off the floors into the central vacuum || -Wash toilets and sinks -Change garbage -Replace toilet paper and hand towels -Disinfect and kill germs || -Style the client’s hair -Dry clients’ hair after shampooing a color when they are not getting a cut || -Separate dark and light towels -Wash and dry towels in the machines -Fold towels and distribute them to various locations throughout the salon || -Water -Shampoo & Conditioner -Towels || -Broom -Central vacuum system -Dust pan || -Cleaning products -Gloves -Sponges and rags -Toilet paper -Towels || -Blow drier -Hair product || -Towels -Washing machine and drier -Detergent || -Hairdressers need their clients shampooed || -Hairdressers cut hair to create mess || -none || -Clients need their hair dried || -Hairdressers dirty the towels when using them on wet hair -People dry their hands on the towels in the bathrooms || -Wash Towels (keep on hand for shampoos) || -none || -Wash Towels (ensure they are available to keep on hand in bathroom) || -Shampoo Clients (after washing their hair, they need to be dried) || -Shampoo Clients (use the towels to dry wet hair) -Clean Bathrooms (clean towels must be kept on hand in the bathrooms) || -Some clients don’t want their hair washed || -Central vacuum may go down and must use dust pan, very inconvenient || -Sometimes the salon is so busy that I do not have time to clean the bathrooms -Can run out of cleaner || -The client can have difficult hair to blow-dry || -Towels may be used so often that they cannot be cleaned fast enough os || -The clients can be very uncomfortable in the chair and sink || -Hard to sweep around the feet of hairdressers who are working || -Can be very disgusting || -Arms can become sore from blow-drying || -May use up hot water which needs to be reserved for shampoo ||
 * || ** SHAMPOO CLIENTS ** || ** SWEEP FLOORS ** || ** CLEAN BATHROOMS ** || ** BLOWDRY HAIR ** || ** WASH TOWELS ** ||
 * ** PURPOSE ** || -To prepare the clients for their haircuts
 * ** FUNCTIONS ** || · -Clients must be taken to sinks and draped with a cape
 * ** OBJECTS ** || -Sink
 * ** ROLES ** || -Clients need their hair washed
 * ** LINKS ** || -Blow-drying Hair (sometimes after a shampoo)
 * ** CONSTRAINTS ** || -Only three sinks, sometimes occupied or crowded
 * ** ISSUES ** || -The water may get the client wet