Employee Development Competency Matrices

Core Curriculum Matrix Development

NOTE: The Employee Development Competency matrices are designed to be used in combination with the Construction, Materials, Maintenance and Safety & Work Zone matrices.

Subject Areas:

Basic Skills
Thinking & Learning
Personal Qualities
Working with Others
Computer Technology

Basic Skills

Disciplines	Competencies by Skill Levels
Disciplines	Level I	Level II	Level III	Level IV
Reading	Reads at an 8^th grade level	Reads at a 12^th grade level	Reads at a sophomore college level	Reads at a senior college level
Writing	Writes at an 8^th grade level	Writes at a 12^th grade level	Uses proper writing techniques in business writing
Mathematics	Performs basic math computations at an 8^th grade level	Performs advanced math calculations and algebra equations	Performs trigonometric calculations and has an understanding of statistics	Performs statistical quality control
Communication	Listens to and interprets verbal messages	Presents materials to diverse audiences	Develops and delivers audience-centered presentations	Responds appropriately to questions and requests from the media
Communication	Seeks feedback from others	Presents materials to diverse audiences	Develops and delivers audience-centered presentations
Technical Credibility	Applies procedures related to specialized expertise	Leads work team when Supervisor not present	Manages projects and teams of technicians
			Determines resource requirements
			Hires personnel
Training	Recognizes equipment and situations requiring training	Recommends training	Identifies training and development needs	Ensures compliance with QA/QC/OSHA/TCCC and other training standards
Training	Recognizes equipment and situations requiring training	Recommends training	Identifies training and development needs	Conducts training

Thinking & Learning

Disciplines	Competencies by Skill Levels
Disciplines	Level I	Level II	Level III	Level IV
Problem Solving	Uses basic problem solving techniques	Uses the appropriate problem solving tool for a given problem situation	Recognizes problems and implements solutions	Uses process improvement techniques to resolve problems
Creativity and Innovation	Applies knowledge and skills in a variety of situations	Implements new concepts and ideas	Creates a climate for creative thinking	Initiates new concepts and ideas
Decision Making	Makes appropriate decisions based on the requirements of the task	Specifies goals and constraints and chooses best alternative	Facilitates decision making through the use of appropriate tools and processes	Makes enterprise level decisions
Decision Making				Serves as accountable authority for all decision making
Continual Learning	Grasps new information, masters new knowledge	Seeks new sources of information to expand knowledge, skills and abilities	Integrates knowledge, skills and abilities to work processes
Continual Learning	Seeks feedback from others
External Awareness	Recognizes the organizational structure and general policies and procedures for working within the organization	Explains the organization's cultural climate to others	Applies federal and other external policies and standard to internal operations	Develops near-term and long-range plans to accommodate external trends
Strategic Thinking	Applies basic strategic thinking skills to daily work activities	Applies complex strategic thinking skills to daily work activities	Develops strategic plans	Generates plans in alignment with external drivers
Strategic Thinking			Examines policy issues and strategic planning with a long-term perspective	Generates plans in alignment with external drivers

Personal Qualities

Disciplines	Competencies by Skill Levels
Disciplines	Level I	Level II	Level III	Level IV
Work Habits/Image	Demonstrates a positive attitude toward themselves and others	Recognizes the importance of work habit and image on the team	Demonstrates professionalism, both in dealing with the public and coworkers
	Demonstrates willingness to learn		Models, encourages and rewards professional behavior in others
	Accepts responsibility
	Demonstrates good grooming and personal hygiene practices
Interpersonal Skills	Responds to needs and feelings in an empathic way
Interpersonal Skills	Responds, receives and gives information in a positive manner
Time Management	Completes assigned activities in the time allotted	Completes short and long term projects on time	Manages meetings with proper preparation
Time Management	Completes assigned activities in the time allotted	Prioritizes work	Manages meetings with proper preparation
Stress Management	Balances competing demands by taking healthy steps to manage demands		Encourages and supports the healthy management of stress
Ethics	Adheres to high standards of integrity
Ethics	Practices ethical behaviors and expects it of others
Flexibility	Demonstrates flexibility and adjusts to new situations	Adjusts daily plans and reorganizes projects as required
		Adjusts resources to the new plan
		Modifies project plans to accommodate project changes
Service Motivation	Demonstrates the organization's customer service policies and practices	Expects high quality of customer service from team	Models effective customer service and encourages others to a high quality of service
Vision	Recognizes the organization's vision	Reinforces organization's vision through work practices	Influences others to translate vision into action
Accountability	Follows rules	Holds self and team accountable for work	Accountable for work, resources, budget of team
Accountability	Performs job responsibilities	Holds self and team accountable for work	Responsible that projects are completed in a timely manner and within budget
Entrepreneurship	Considers work as own business	Takes risks to achieve a recognized benefit or advantage	Uses effective business practices to produce results
Entrepreneurship	Considers work as own business	Takes risks to achieve a recognized benefit or advantage	Creates an atmosphere that encourages team to try new methods
Financial Management		Manages resources to stay within the budget	Administers budget for program	Acquires budgets
Financial Management		Manages resources to stay within the budget	Manages contracting	Acquires budgets
Technology Management	Performs basic technological skills appropriate for the job	Uses skills to improve job performance	Integrates technology into the workplace
Political Savvy	Recognizes basic organizational politics	Navigates the organizational system to get resources and work done	Identifies the internal and external politics of the organization
Project Management	Describes role on the project	Describes role of team in the project	Manages project team	Manages complex projects and programs
		Manages resources	Develops WBS and project timelines/schedules	Tracks and manages milestones
		Manages resources	Develops WBS and project timelines/schedules	Adjusts project and program schedules

Working with Others

Disciplines	Competencies by Skill Levels
Disciplines	Level I	Level II	Level III	Level IV
Human Resources Management			Assesses current and future staffing needs
			Conducts interviews of potential candidates
			Hires personnel
			Performs preventive disciplinary functions according to contract provisions
			Resolves disagreements
Harassment	Recognizes what constitutes harassment	Follows process for reporting and handling harassment complaints	Understands supervisory responsibilities in dealing with harassment
Harassment	Describes rights as an employee and the legal consequences of harassing
Discrimination	Recognizes discriminatory communications and behaviors in the workplace	Describes employment related laws affecting discriminatory communications and behaviors in the workplace	Ensures that hiring process and work environment adhere to non-discriminatory practices
Diversity	Recognizes the value of cultural, ethnic, gender, and other individual differences		Addresses the special needs of employees in the workplace
			Communicates implications of EEO/AA, ADA and civil rights to the workplace
			Ensures that honor of diversity and accommodation is practiced in the workplace and inherent in the hiring process
Teamwork	Recognizes the role of a team and being a team member		Facilitates the open exchange of ideas among teams	Leads work teams
Teamwork	Works cooperatively with other team members		Mentors others	Leads work teams
Partnering/Customer Service	Describes principles of Partnering and Customer service
	Practices Partnering and Customer Service
	Builds partnerships with customers
Leadership Influencing/ Negotiating			Performs role of supervisor
Leadership Influencing/ Negotiating			Persuades others and gains cooperation to obtain information and accomplish goals
Public Relations	Provides information to the public in polite and articulate manner	Explains more complex situations in polite and articulate manner	Understand the components of public communications and outreach programs	Conducts analyses and provides supporting material to PR executives for projects

Computer Technology

Disciplines	Competencies by Skill Levels
Disciplines	Level I	Level II	Level III	Level IV
Office Automation Applications	Performs basic word processing functions	Uses word processor in performance of work activities	Uses office automation applications (word processor, spreadsheet, email, presentation, scheduling) in the performance of daily work activities
	Sends and receives email	Performs basic spreadsheet functions
	Sends and receives email	Sends and receives attachments to email messages
Internet	Locate web pages that have information pertaining to their employment (e.g. MSDS)		Researches information on construction topics, local government websites, Federal government web sites, etc.
Job-Related Technologies	Uses job-related technologies required in the execution of daily work activities