Which measurement tool employs random sample observations to gauge an entire department's performance?

Work sampling is a measurement tool that involves observing random samples of work in order to assess the performance or activities of a department over time. This method uses intermittent observations to draw conclusions about how an entire department operates, rather than needing to observe every single instance of work. By randomly selecting observations, work sampling provides a statistically valid representation of the overall performance, making it easier to gauge productivity, efficiency, and resource allocation.

In this context, work sampling allows an organization to gather insights without the burden of continuous monitoring, which can be resource-intensive and may influence employee behavior. The randomness of the observations helps to minimize bias and provides a more accurate reflection of the department's typical performance. This is particularly useful in environments where workload fluctuates or where a comprehensive review of every task is impractical.

In contrast, performance controls refer to the systems and practices put in place to monitor performance and ensure that objectives are met, but they do not specifically use random sampling for their assessments. Performance measurement encompasses a broader range of tools and metrics used to evaluate performance but may not specifically incorporate the randomness of observations that work sampling does. Work distribution involves analyzing how work is allocated among employees or teams, which does not directly assess performance through the means of random sampling.