What is a crucial step in identifying potential workload factors for measurement?

Identifying work units not controlled by the function under study is crucial for accurately measuring potential workload factors. This step helps in isolating the impact of the specific function being analyzed from other influences that may skew the data. By understanding what aspects of work are external to the function, analysts can better assess the true workload generated by the function itself, allowing for a clearer measurement of efficiency, productivity, and resource needs. This differentiation is essential for accurate workload analysis and effective workforce planning, as it ensures that the metrics reflect the performance and demands of the function alone, without the distortion of unrelated work units.

Considering the context of the other options, estimating total costs might provide insights into the financial aspect but does not directly help in identifying workload factors. Gathering employee feedback can be useful for understanding perceptions of workload but may also introduce subjective bias, making it less effective in objective measurement. Conducting a market analysis, while beneficial for external benchmarking, does not contribute to the internal understanding of workload factors specific to the function being studied.