---
title: Work Sampling (MMA)
description: "Where does the time really go? Work Sampling answers it with many short, random snapshots instead of a full day of watching. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows a worked example…"
url: "https://skillagility.com/en/resources/work-sampling/"
updated: "2026-10-07"
category: 03 ANALYZE
---

# Work Sampling (MMA)

Where does the time really go? Work Sampling answers it with many short, random snapshots instead of a full day of watching. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows a worked example and gives you a blank template to fill in.

Tool video

The short tool video will appear here.

[Work-Sampling_Toolkit_EN](https://skillagility.com/wp-content/plugins/embedpress/assets/pdf/web/viewer.html?&file=https%3A%2F%2Fskillagility.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F10%2FWork-Sampling_Toolkit_EN.pdf#key=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)

## Work Sampling (MMA) in short

1. **Set goal and scope.** Which question, who or what, over which period?
2. **Define 5 to 10 categories.** Mutually exclusive, each with a one-sentence definition: working, setup, moving, waiting, rework …
3. **Calculate N.** With the formula, typically at 95 % confidence and ± 5 % precision.
4. **Random schedule.** Spread N over days and shifts, at random times. Never deviate from it.
5. **Observe, tally, act.** Record only what happens at that moment. Share = count ÷ all. Investigate the surprises.

Key points

- Many random snapshots, not continuous watching.
- N = Z² × p × (1 − p) ÷ P².
- Share = count ÷ all observations.
- High waiting or rework shares point to causes.

**Related tools:** [Sample Size](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/sample-size/) · [Yamazumi Chart](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/yamazumi-chart/) · [Spaghetti Diagram](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/spaghetti-diagram/)