HR-Survey > Employee Opinion > Dimensions

Survey Questions: Technical Skills

Definition: Technical refers to an employee's ability to apply specialized tools, methods, and systems to produce high-quality technical work, assign tasks aligned with team members' proficiencies, and ensure efficient, secure implementation of solutions. It includes deep expertise across relevant domains, the ability to analyze operational and performance data, and the use of appropriate equipment, design practices, and risk-informed planning to drive innovation and resilience. Technical employees foster a culture of continuous improvement by sharing knowledge, maintaining clear documentation, supporting peer learning, and championing standards that align with strategic goals. They play a pivotal role in translating complex findings into actionable insights, coordinating technical roles, and ensuring that systems, measures, and support structures are in place to sustain excellence.

Technical Skills

Technical Skills reflect an employee's ability to execute and lead technical work through applied knowledge, structured processes, and effective delegation. These skills are demonstrated by assigning tasks based on assessed proficiency, producing high-quality outputs, translating complex concepts for nontechnical audiences, and ensuring that teams have the tools, procedures, and stretch opportunities needed to grow and succeed. Technical Skills are grounded in doing--building, implementing, and optimizing systems, products, and workflows with precision and clarity. They emphasize operational excellence, innovation, and the ability to lead others in technical execution.

My manager is authoritative and well balanced.
The company ensures employees have the necessary technical skills to be successful.
The project manager matches work to team members' current technical skills while providing stretch assignments to support growth.
My team creates important technical innovations.
Leaders assign tasks based on assessed technical proficiency to ensure work is completed efficiently.
The supervisor offers clear technical input and advice into the operations.
My coworkers know how to produce high quality products/work.
My manager translates complex technical concepts into clear, actionable language for nontechnical stakeholders.
Our department develops procedures to revitalize and enhance technical competence.

Expertise

Expertise represents the depth, breadth, and influence of an employee's technical knowledge across domains. It is marked by mastery of complex subject matter, the ability to identify nuanced issues, and the capacity to craft creative, high-impact solutions that align with organizational goals. Employees with strong Expertise are trusted advisors, often sought out across departments for their insight, judgment, and ability to shape policy, strategy, and direction. While Technical Skills focus on execution and enablement, Expertise is about credibility, influence, and the strategic application of knowledge to drive value beyond one's immediate scope.

The supervisor is naturally sought out by people outside his/her particular area for advice and opinion on a broad range of matter - not necessarily solely legal advice.
My manager willingly shares his/her technical expertise; sought out as resource by others.
Supervisors provide a valuable source of technical information for the department.
The project lead demonstrates mastery of the technical competencies required in his/her work.
My manager has technical expertise in many areas important for the department.
Our manager uses expertise to identify issues and think through creative solutions to get a problem solved or objective accomplished.
My team leader leverages technical expertise in the policy-making process.
My supervisor offers expert advice that provides immediate value to the organization.
My manager has technical and legal expertise relevant to company's growth and business expectations.

Information

Information emphasizes the flow, accessibility, and stewardship of technical knowledge. It reflects an employee's ability to gather, curate, and disseminate accurate, timely, and relevant information to support others in making sound decisions and executing their work effectively. This includes building repositories, contributing to reusable frameworks, and being a reliable source of insight for both peers and stakeholders. Information is about enabling action through clarity, transparency, and the structured sharing of technical content.

The supervisor provides technical information and analysis.
My coworkers are a good source of technical information.
Our manager shares information and experience; sought out as resource by others.
My supervisor increases the flow of technical information and analysis.
The project manager provides valuable scientific and technical information.
My team improves staff access to technical information.
My manager contributes to the development of internal frameworks, libraries, or reusable components.
Our team creates a clearinghouse of technical information.
Our department ensures accurate technical information is available.
Leaders provide technical information for strategic decision making.
Coworkers in my department seek information from others as needed.

Analysis

Analysis centers on the interpretation and application of data to solve problems, assess risk, and guide technical direction. It involves designing experiments, segmenting data, validating hypotheses, and applying evidence-based reasoning to optimize performance and prioritize investments. Analysis ensures that knowledge is interrogated, tested, and transformed into actionable insight.

The supervisor performs cost-benefit analysis when evaluating new tools or platforms.
My manager segments data to identify high-impact areas for technical investment.
Colleagues triage incidents by severity and probable cause to focus remediation efforts.
Colleagues conduct scientific and technical inquiries.
My supervisor applies technical analysis to meet the needs of the team.
Colleagues coordinate the technical analysis of operations/performance data.
Our department analyzes test results and iterates on solutions based on evidence.
The members of my team validate solutions through rigorous testing and verification before deployment.
My manager designs controlled experiments (A/B tests, canary releases) to validate changes.
My team applies risk analysis to find the most effective implementation methodology.
The company leverages data and analytics to inform technical decisions and prioritize work.
The project manager breaks complex problems into testable hypotheses and experiments.

Tools and Equipment

Tools and Equipment focuses on the tangible technologies and resources that enable technical work--such as software, hardware, and specialized devices--and the processes that ensure their effective use. It emphasizes operational readiness: selecting the right tools, configuring them securely, training staff on their use, and monitoring utilization to optimize performance and cost. Managers strong in this area lead pilots, evaluate vendors, and ensure that teams have the equipment and technical skills needed to succeed. The emphasis is on access, maintenance, and practical enablement of technical execution.

My manager gives technical advice regarding appropriate equipment maintenance.
Leaders provide staff with equipment and technical skills to be successful.
The project manager trains team members on the effective and safe use of specialized tools and equipment.
My team establishes protocols for tool configuration, version control, and access management.
Employees at the company monitor tool utilization and performance metrics, identifying underused or outdated equipment and recommending upgrade or decommissioning.
My team leader adapts emerging tools and platforms to meet evolving business needs.
My manager ensures the department is provided with the necessary equipment and technical expertise to use it.
My manager leads pilot programs to test new technical tools, gathering feedback and assessing scalability before broader adoption.
The supervisor evaluates third-party tools and vendors to recommend fit, cost, and integration impact.

Systems and Design

Systems and Design centers on the architecture, integration, and optimization of technical solutions to meet complex, evolving needs. It involves designing scalable, secure, and maintainable systems that align with business goals, incorporating automation, cross-functional requirements, and long-term planning. Leaders in this space think holistically--selecting not just tools, but orchestrating how those tools, processes, and data interact to form efficient, resilient systems. Systems and Design is about why and how well everything fits together to serve strategic outcomes.

My manager optimizes code, processes, and workflows to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
My manager designs new technical solutions to meet the needs of the project.
Our team optimizes use of new technologies to streamline business operations.
The project manager designs solutions with scalability and maintainability in mind for long-term use.
I know how to implement security best practices to protect systems, data, and intellectual property.
The team leader selects the optimal design to meet the technical needs of the department.
The project leader integrates cross-functional requirements into technical designs to support business objectives.
Coworkers in my department adapt procedures to work more effectively in a technical setting.
The supervisor adapts new technologies to better meet the needs of the department.
My supervisor automates repetitive tasks to increase reliability and free staff for higher-value work.
The project manager plans for system scalability and maintainability during early design phases.

Implementation

Implementation focuses on the structured, forward-looking process of introducing new technologies, systems, or procedures into an organization. It involves defining acceptance criteria, conducting impact analyses, coordinating multi-phase rollouts, and ensuring that solutions are scalable, aligned with business goals, and adopted effectively by staff. Implementation is proactive and strategic--it's about building and embedding change in a way that enhances operations and prepares the organization for future needs. Leaders strong in Implementation anticipate dependencies, design procedures, and monitor usage to ensure sustained success.

My manager optimizes the implementation and adoption of innovative technologies.
The company coordinates adoption of advanced technologies to address skills shortages.
Our department performs dependency impact analysis before implementing major changes.
Our department creates detailed implementation plans for new tools, systems, or infrastructure changes.
Supervisors select technical solutions that provide scalability.
My manager defines acceptance criteria and test plans before implementation.
Our team develops multi-phase implementation plans that align with evolving technical requirements and business goals.
The supervisor designs procedures to effectively implement new technologies.
Our team monitors staff usage of new procedures to ensure successful implementation of new technologies.
Team members implement advanced technical solutions to streamline business operations.
Our team coordinates the implementation of new technologies.

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting is reactive and diagnostic, centering on identifying, analyzing, and resolving technical issues that disrupt performance or reliability. It includes root cause analysis, structured debugging, incident triage, and the use of monitoring tools to detect and mitigate failures before they escalate. Troubleshooting is about restoring stability, learning from breakdowns, and preventing recurrence through systemic fixes and shared knowledge. Troubleshooting ensures systems remain resilient, functional, and continuously improved in the face of complexity and failure.

Employees maintain a knowledge base of resolved issues, enabling faster troubleshooting and shared learning.
The project leader applies systematic troubleshooting methods to diagnose and resolve technical problems.
My team implements monitoring and alerting tools to detect anomalies before they escalate into failures.
My manager understands how best to approach complex technical problems that affect coworkers.
The project manager identifies technical bottlenecks and failure points and proactively plans mitigations.
My manager helps the department with complex technical issues.
My manager guides team members through structured debugging sessions, modeling how to isolate variables and test hypotheses.
Associates perform root cause analysis to prevent recurrence of technical failures.
Coworkers in my department lead root cause investigations using structured techniques (e.g., 5 Whys, fishbone).
My supervisor facilitates post-incident reviews to identify systemic causes and drive long-term fixes.
The team leader anticipates failure scenarios during planning and builds in diagnostic hooks or fallback mechanisms.
Colleagues escalate persistent technical issues with clear documentation, including logs, reproduction steps, and impact analysis.
Colleagues optimize the solutions to complex technical problems.

Training

Training emphasizes the intentional development and transfer of technical knowledge and skills across individuals and teams. It includes formal and informal learning--such as certifications, workshops, mentoring, and peer learning--that build capability, ensure technical readiness, and support succession planning. Training is people-centered: it equips staff with the competencies and confidence to apply tools, methods, and analytical techniques effectively in their roles. Leaders who prioritize Training foster a culture of growth, ensuring that technical expertise is not only acquired but also shared and sustained across the organization.

The project manager coaches engineers on analytical methods and evidence-based debugging.
The supervisor designs and delivers technical workshops tailored to team needs and skill gaps.
My manager mentors and develops junior technical staff, building team capability and succession.
Coworkers in my department engage in peer learning by shadowing experts or participating in cross-functional technical reviews.
My supervisor keeps current with technical advances within his/her professional discipline; embraces and applies new techniques and practices
Supervisors provide staff with technical training.
Managers inform and educate department staff on technical issues.
Colleagues complete certifications or advanced coursework to deepen domain expertise.
The members of my team update technical and professional competencies through classroom training and attending workshops.
My team leader pursues opportunities for advanced education and training.

Continuous Improvement

Continuous Improvement focuses on the systematic enhancement of technical processes, standards, and outcomes through data-driven iteration. It is less about individual learning and more about evolving the technical system itself--analyzing workflows, applying quality assurance, integrating feedback, and optimizing resource allocation to reduce waste and improve performance. Continuous Improvement is process-centered: it embeds learning into the fabric of operations, ensuring that technical practices adapt and mature over time. While Training builds human capital, Continuous Improvement transforms that capital into smarter, more resilient systems and solutions.

My coworkers seek out emerging technical trends and integrate relevant innovations into team practices.
My manager creates runbooks and playbooks based on analyzed incident data to continually improve operations.
Our department analyzes workflows to remove waste and reduce cycle time.
Managers improve operations through optimized resource allocation.
My team implements continuous improvement loops driven by data.
My manager applies quality assurance methodologies to ensure deliverables meet specifications and user needs.
My department drives continuous improvement by soliciting feedback, measuring outcomes, and iterating on technical solutions.
My coworkers champion technical standards, best practices, and governance across the organization.

Knowledge

Knowledge refers to the internalization, application, and sharing of technical understanding. It encompasses an employee's grasp of systems, procedures, and domain-specific expertise, as well as their ability to use that knowledge to coach others, interpret complex issues, and make informed decisions. Employees strong in this area stay current through professional development, participate in technical communities, and foster a culture of learning by mentoring staff and leading knowledge-sharing sessions. Knowledge is dynamic and interpersonal--focused on how expertise is developed, applied, and transmitted in real time to elevate team capability.

Managers provide real-time coaching during code reviews, design discussions, or incident response.
My team leader is knowledgeable of procedures or systems necessary for the job.
My manager understands how different combinations of technical solutions may impact business operations.
Supervisors leverage technical knowledge to train and advance department staff.
The members of my team develop and maintain technical "know-how" in the department.
My supervisor hosts regular knowledge-sharing sessions to disseminate best practices and lessons learned.
Managers provide staff with a basic understanding of highly technical issues.
Team members participate in technical communities, webinars, and forums to stay informed on industry developments.
The project leader is knowledgeable of procedures or systems necessary for their job.

Documentation

Documentation emphasizes the externalization and preservation of technical knowledge in structured, accessible formats. It involves creating and maintaining manuals, runbooks, reports, and knowledge bases that ensure continuity, clarity, and self-directed learning across the organization. Employees who excel in Documentation ensure that technical processes, decisions, and lessons learned are captured accurately and updated consistently, enabling others to access and apply information independently. Documentation is about codifying and institutionalizing shared expertise for long-term organizational resilience.

Our team presents technical reports in a way that is easy to understand.
The project manager maintains oversight of technical documentation, ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and version control.
Coworkers in my department read technical manuals/reports as needed.
My coworkers document failure modes and corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Our department creates and maintains accessible technical documentation and knowledge bases.
The members of my team document technical processes, configurations, and decisions for future reference and continuity.
My manager implements internal wikis, runbooks, or documentation hubs to support self-directed learning.
Supervisors design technical reports that are easy to read and interpret.
Employees in my department update technical documentation when equipment or procedures are changed.

Decision Making and Planning

Decision Making and Planning emphasize how managers use structured frameworks, data, and foresight to make informed technical choices and align them with broader strategic goals. It involves evaluating trade-offs, forecasting future needs, coordinating deployments, and managing technical risk to ensure continuity, scalability, and long-term value. This competency is about what decisions are made, when they are made, and how they are sequenced to support sustainable technical growth. It reflects a proactive, integrative mindset that connects technical execution with organizational direction.

Our team applies structured decision frameworks (e.g., decision matrices, trade-off analyses) to complex technical choices.
Our department coordinates technical handoffs and deployments to minimize disruption and ensure continuity.
The supervisor forecasts future technical needs based on usage trends, system performance, and organizational growth.
Our department evaluates systems for technical efficiency and usability.
The members of my team understand basic data and analytics to make informed decisions.
Managers integrate technical roadmaps with broader operational or product strategies.
Managers use data and stakeholder input to make timely, well-reasoned technical decisions.
Our manager assesses the downstream impact of technical decisions on users, systems, and teams.
Company leaders manage technical risk by identifying vulnerabilities and implementing mitigation plans.
Managers quantify technical risks (security, reliability, scalability) and plan for appropriate mitigations.
Team members implement long-term strategic plans to continue to meet the department's technical needs.
The project manager estimates technical efforts and resources needed for upcoming projects.
My manager evaluates multiple technical options and selects the one that best balances cost, risk, and performance.

Measures

Measures focus on the quantification and monitoring of technical performance through metrics, KPIs, and benchmarking. It is about building the instrumentation that allows teams to track system health, assess effectiveness, and identify areas for improvement. Measures provides the data infrastructure--dashboards, automated testing, performance indicators--that enables visibility, accountability, and continuous feedback loops. While Decision Making and Planning uses data to guide choices, Measures ensures that the right data is available, accurate, and actionable to support those decisions.

Managers use quantitative metrics to set technical priorities and measure progress.
The company develops new KPIs and technical indicators.
Our department establishes technical metrics and KPIs to measure effectiveness and guide improvements.
The company implements technical standards and benchmarks to maintain a competitive edge in the industry.
The supervisor monitors KPIs and technical indicators to keep ahead of industry peers.
My team monitors technical risk assessment issues that may impact the organization.
Our team builds dashboards and KPIs to monitor system health and team performance.
Colleagues monitor system performance and availability, proactively addressing bottlenecks and outages.
Our department benchmarks systems and processes against peers and industry norms to identify improvement opportunities.
Colleagues use automated testing and CI pipelines to verify behavior across environments.
My team establishes technical KPIs and reporting mechanisms to track system health and team performance.

Roles

Roles emphasize the formal responsibilities and structural positions that managers and team members hold to ensure technical execution, governance, and strategic alignment. These roles often involve leading projects, advising leadership, coordinating cross-functional efforts, participating in audits, and serving as key technical points of contact. They reflect how individuals are positioned within the organization to drive technical outcomes, influence policy, and ensure compliance and continuity. Roles are about where someone stands in the technical ecosystem and the authority or accountability they carry.

Our team coordinates cross-functional dependencies to ensure smooth technical execution.
The project manager acts as a technical advisor to senior leadership, translating complex issues into actionable insights.
My manager participates in the development of guidelines and policies around technical information.
Our supervisor oversees technical onboarding for new hires, ensuring alignment with team practices and tools.
The project lead serves as the technical point of contact for cross-functional initiatives and external partners.
The supervisor plays a key technical role on the team.
Associates maintain membership in technical societies and associations.
The project leader participates in audits and compliance reviews, ensuring systems meet regulatory and security requirements.
My manager leads technical projects, coordinating resources, timelines, and deliverables to successful completion.
My supervisor provides technical assistance to the project team.
The supervisor leads technical due diligence during vendor selection, acquisitions, or major investments.

Supportive

Supportive highlights the enabling behaviors and interpersonal contributions that help others succeed in technical environments. This includes providing access to information, supporting technical decision-making, facilitating onboarding, and translating complex findings into actionable insights for stakeholders. Supportive actions are less about formal authority and more about responsiveness, advocacy, and creating conditions for others to thrive technically. Supportive reflects how they help others fulfill their responsibilities through encouragement, resources, and guidance.

My department gives support for technical advances.
My supervisor supports employee input to make timely, well-reasoned technical decisions.
The supervisor gives support to employees for access to technical information/reports.
The project lead hires technical analysts as needed.
Supervisors develop onboarding materials to accelerate new hires' technical ramp-up.
My team ensures compliance with industry standards, regulations, and internal technical policies.
My department translates technical findings into clear, data-backed recommendations for stakeholders.