600 Questionnaire Items Measuring Technical Skills
Technical skills are crucial for businesses because they enable a group of individuals to work with precision, solve problems efficiently, and build reliable systems that keep operations running smoothly. The main components of technical skills include:
- Expertise the depth, breadth, and influence of an employee's technical knowledge.
- Information the gathering, organizing, curating, and sharing of technical knowledge.
- Analysis the interpretation, evaluation, and application of technical data to solve problems, make decisions, and improve systems.
- Tools/Equipment the selection, deployment, maintenance, and effective use of tangible technologies--such as software platforms, hardware, and specialized tools--that enable technical work.
- Systems & Design the architecture, integration, and optimization of technical systems and processes.
- Implementation planning, coordinating, and executing the introduction of new technologies, systems, or procedures.
- Troubleshooting responding to and resolving technical problems--especially when systems fail, behave unexpectedly, or underperform.
Technical skills enable managers to lead with clarity, precision, and confidence by grounding their decisions in real evidence and a deep understanding of the systems, tools, and methods their teams rely on. They allow managers to assign work effectively, anticipate risks, troubleshoot issues before they escalate, and design solutions that are both scalable and reliable. Strong technical skills also help managers guide the adoption of new technologies, build meaningful metrics, and ensure their teams have the knowledge, equipment, and frameworks needed to perform at a high level. Ultimately, technical skills empower managers to elevate team performance, reduce operational friction, and drive continuous improvement across the organization.
360-Feedback Assessments Measuring Technical Skills:
Survey 1 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 2 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 3 (5-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 4 (5-point scale; radio buttons)
Survey 5 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 6 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 7 (5-point scale; competency comments; N/A)
Survey 8 (3-point scale; Agree/Disagree words; N/A)
Survey 9 (3-point scale; Strength/Development; N/A)
Survey 10 (Comment boxes only)
Survey 11 (Single rating per competency)
Survey 12 (Slide-bar scale)
Survey 13 (4-point scale; numbers; floating anchors)
Survey 14 (4-point scale; N/A)
360-Degree Feedback Questionnaire Items
Technical skills contribute to a manager's success by giving them the ability to understand the systems, tools, and processes their teams rely on, allowing them to make informed decisions grounded in evidence rather than assumptions. They help managers assign work effectively, anticipate risks, troubleshoot issues before they escalate, and guide the adoption of new technologies that improve performance. Strong technical skills also enable managers to interpret data, build meaningful metrics, and design solutions that are reliable, scalable, and aligned with organizational goals. Ultimately, technical skills empower managers to lead with clarity, support their teams more effectively, and drive continuous improvement across the organization.
Technical SkillsTechnical Skills refer to an employee's ability to apply specific tools, methods, and processes to produce high-quality technical work and lead others in doing the same. This includes not only maintaining and updating one's own technical capabilities, but also ensuring that team members possess the necessary skills to succeed. Employees strong in Technical Skills are operationally effective: they assign work based on assessed proficiency, develop procedures to enhance team competence, and translate complex concepts into actionable guidance. Their strength lies in execution--delivering results, fostering growth, and applying technical knowledge to improve systems, products, and workflows.
- Knows how to produce high quality products/work.
- Translates complex technical concepts into clear, actionable language for nontechnical stakeholders.
- Is authoritative and well balanced.
- Offers clear technical input and advice into the operations.
- Updates technical skills.
- Develops procedures to revitalize and enhance technical competence.
- Ensures employees have the necessary technical skills to be successful.
- Creates important technical innovations.
- Matches work to team members' current technical skills while providing stretch assignments to support growth.
- Assigns tasks based on assessed technical proficiency to ensure work is completed efficiently.
ExpertiseExpertise reflects the depth, breadth, and influence of an employee's technical knowledge. It is demonstrated through mastery of complex subject matter, the ability to generate innovative solutions, and the credibility to advise others across functions or domains. Employees with strong Expertise are recognized as thought leaders and trusted resources; they are frequently consulted for their judgment, contribute to policy and strategy, and shape organizational direction through their insights. Expertise is about being--being the person others turn to for authoritative, high-impact technical guidance.
- Demonstrates mastery of the technical competencies required in his/her work.
- Is naturally sought out by people outside his/her particular area for advice and opinion on a broad range of matters - not necessarily solely legal advice.
- Willingly shares his/her technical expertise; sought out as resource by others.
- Uses expertise to identify issues and think through creative solutions to get a problem solved or objective accomplished.
- Makes legal expertise relevant to company's growth and business expectations.
- Provides a valuable source of technical information for the department.
- Has technical expertise in many areas important for the department.
- Leverages technical expertise in the policy-making process.
- Offers expert advice that provides immediate value to the organization.
InformationInformation emphasizes the gathering, organizing, curating, and sharing of technical knowledge. It reflects an employee's role as a conduit and steward of information--ensuring that accurate, relevant, and timely technical data is accessible to others. This includes building repositories, improving access, contributing to reusable resources, and being a reliable source of expertise. It's about enabling others to act by making technical knowledge visible, structured, and available. Employees strong in this area are often sought out for their ability to connect people with the right information and to foster a culture of transparency and knowledge flow.
- Seeks information from others as needed.
- Willingly shares information and experience; sought out as resource by others.
- Provides technical information for strategic decision making.
- Ensures accurate technical information is available.
- Provides valuable scientific and technical information.
- Provides technical information and analysis.
- Increases the flow of technical information and analysis.
- Is a good source of technical information.
- Contributes to the development of internal frameworks, libraries, or reusable components.
- Creates a clearinghouse of technical information.
- Improves staff access to technical information.
AnalysisAnalysis focuses on the interpretation, evaluation, and application of technical data to solve problems, make decisions, and improve systems. It involves critical thinking, experimentation, and evidence-based reasoning--breaking down complex issues, identifying patterns, validating hypotheses, and drawing conclusions that inform action. Employees demonstrating strong analytical capability don't just possess or distribute information--they interrogate it, test it, and use it to drive technical insight, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Analyzes test results and iterates on solutions based on evidence.
- Designs controlled experiments (A/B tests, canary releases) to validate changes.
- Triages incidents by severity and probable cause to focus remediation efforts.
- Applies technical analysis to meet the needs of the team.
- Applies risk analysis to find the most effective implementation methodology.
- Performs cost-benefit analysis when evaluating new tools or platforms.
- Validates solutions through rigorous testing and verification before deployment.
- Breaks complex problems into testable hypotheses and experiments.
- Coordinates the technical analysis of operations/performance data.
- Conducts scientific and technical inquiries.
- Segments data to identify high-impact areas for technical investment.
- Leverages data and analytics to inform technical decisions and prioritize work.
Tools and EquipmentTools and Equipment focuses on the selection, deployment, maintenance, and effective use of tangible technologies--such as software platforms, hardware, and specialized tools--that enable technical work. It emphasizes operational readiness: ensuring the team has access to the right tools, knows how to use them safely and effectively, and can rely on them to perform consistently. Employees strong in this area evaluate vendor options, lead pilots, monitor tool performance, and collaborate with IT and procurement to align tools with business needs. They also establish protocols for configuration and access, train staff, and adapt emerging tools to evolving workflows.
- Monitors tool utilization and performance metrics, identifying underused or outdated equipment and recommending upgrades or decommissioning.
- Collaborates with procurement and IT teams to align tool selection with technical requirements, budget constraints, and long-term support needs.
- Leads pilot programs to test new technical tools, gathering feedback and assessing scalability before broader adoption.
- Gives technical advice regarding appropriate equipment maintenance.
- Evaluates third-party tools and vendors to recommend fit, cost, and integration impact.
- Ensures the department is provided with the necessary equipment and technical expertise to use it.
- Trains team members on the effective and safe use of specialized tools and equipment, ensuring consistent standards and minimizing misuse or downtime.
- Adapts emerging tools and platforms to meet evolving business needs.
- Establishes protocols for tool configuration, version control, and access management.
- Provides staff with equipment and technical skills to be successful.
Systems and DesignSystems and Design centers on the architecture, integration, and optimization of technical systems and processes. It reflects a manager's ability to design scalable, secure, and maintainable solutions that meet complex requirements. This includes applying design methodologies, automating workflows, integrating cross-functional needs, and planning for long-term system evolution. Systems and Design is about how everything fits together--the logic, structure, and intentionality behind technical solutions. It's more abstract and architectural, often involving trade-offs, future-proofing, and systemic thinking.
- Designs solutions with scalability and maintainability in mind for long-term use.
- Designs new technical solutions to meet the needs of the project.
- Selects the optimal design to meet the technical needs of the department.
- Adapts procedures to work more effectively in a technical setting.
- Adapts new technologies to better meet the needs of the department.
- Optimizes code, processes, and workflows to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
- Plans for system scalability and maintainability during early design phases.
- Integrates cross-functional requirements into technical designs to support business objectives.
- Automates repetitive tasks to increase reliability and free staff for higher-value work.
- Applies standard design methods to develop robust technical solutions.
- Optimizes use of new technologies to streamline business operations.
- Implements security best practices to protect systems, data, and intellectual property.
ImplementationImplementation focuses on planning, coordinating, and executing the introduction of new technologies, systems, or procedures. It emphasizes proactive design, structured rollout, and long-term alignment with business goals. Employees strong in Implementation create detailed plans, define success criteria, and ensure that new tools or processes are adopted effectively across teams. Their work is forward-looking and systematic--anticipating needs, aligning resources, and optimizing the deployment of innovations to improve technical operations. Implementation is about building and embedding change into the technical environment in a way that is scalable, sustainable, and aligned with strategic objectives.
- Selects technical solutions that provide scalability.
- Creates detailed implementation plans for new tools, systems, or infrastructure changes.
- Develops multi-phase implementation plans that align with evolving technical requirements and business goals.
- Defines acceptance criteria and test plans before implementation.
- Designs procedures to effectively implement new technologies.
- Coordinates adoption of advanced technologies to address skills shortages.
- Monitors staff usage of new procedures to ensure successful implementation of new technologies.
- Implements advanced technical solutions to streamline business operations.
- Coordinates the implementation of new technologies.
- Performs dependency impact analysis before implementing major changes.
- Optimizes the implementation and adoption of innovative technologies.
TroubleshootingTroubleshooting centers on responding to and resolving technical problems--especially when systems fail, behave unexpectedly, or underperform. It emphasizes diagnostic thinking, root cause analysis, and rapid response. Employees skilled in Troubleshooting apply structured methods to isolate issues, guide teams through debugging, and implement fixes that prevent recurrence. Troubleshooting is about stabilizing and recovering from disruption. It often operates under pressure, requiring clarity, calm, and technical depth to restore functionality and learn from failure. In essence, Troubleshooting is the discipline of making things work again, while Implementation is about making new things work well.
- Facilitates post-incident reviews to identify systemic causes and drive long-term fixes.
- Applies systematic troubleshooting methods to diagnose and resolve technical problems.
- Identifies technical bottlenecks and failure points and proactively plans mitigations.
- Leads root cause investigations using structured techniques (e.g., 5 Whys, fishbone).
- Helps the department with complex technical issues.
- Performs root cause analysis to prevent recurrence of technical failures.
- Escalates persistent technical issues with clear documentation, including logs, reproduction steps, and impact analysis.
- Maintains a knowledge base of resolved issues, enabling faster troubleshooting and shared learning.
- Anticipates failure scenarios during planning and builds in diagnostic hooks or fallback mechanisms.
- Understands how best to approach complex technical problems that affect coworkers.
- Guides team members through structured debugging sessions, modeling how to isolate variables and test hypotheses.
- Implements monitoring and alerting tools to detect anomalies before they escalate into failures.
- Optimizes the solutions to complex technical problems.
TrainingTraining emphasizes the development and transfer of knowledge and skills. It focuses on how managers and teams acquire, share, and deepen technical capabilities--whether through formal education, certifications, workshops, mentoring, or peer learning. Training is about building technical capacity: equipping individuals and teams with the tools, understanding, and confidence to perform their roles effectively. Employees strong in this area not only pursue their own learning but also design and deliver learning opportunities for others, ensuring that technical knowledge is current, accessible, and aligned with team needs.
- Keeps current with technical advances within his/her professional discipline; embraces and applies new techniques and practices
- Completes certifications or advanced coursework to deepen domain expertise.
- Updates technical and professional competencies through classroom training and attending workshops.
- Mentors and develops junior technical staff, building team capability and succession.
- Informs and educates department staff on technical issues.
- Designs and delivers technical workshops tailored to team needs and skill gaps.
- Provides staff with technical training.
- Coaches engineers on analytical methods and evidence-based debugging.
- Engages in peer learning by shadowing experts or participating in cross-functional technical reviews.
- Pursues opportunities for advanced education and training.
Continuous ImprovementContinuous Improvement centers on systematically enhancing technical processes, tools, and outcomes over time. It is driven by data, feedback, and a mindset of iteration. While training may be one input to improvement, Continuous Improvement focuses on applying lessons learned to optimize workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and raise quality standards. Employees who excel here embed feedback loops, implement best practices, and use metrics to guide refinements. The emphasis is less on individual skill-building and more on evolving the technical system itself--its processes, standards, and performance--toward greater effectiveness and resilience.
- Champions technical standards, best practices, and governance across the organization.
- Seeks out emerging technical trends and integrates relevant innovations into team practices.
- Implements continuous improvement loops driven by data.
- Drives continuous improvement by soliciting feedback, measuring outcomes, and iterating on technical solutions.
- Improves operations through optimized resource allocation.
- Applies quality assurance methodologies to ensure deliverables meet specifications and user needs.
- Analyzes workflows to remove waste and reduce cycle time.
- Creates runbooks and playbooks based on analyzed incident data to continually improve operations.
KnowledgeKnowledge refers to the internalization, application, and sharing of technical understanding. It encompasses a manager's grasp of systems, procedures, and domain-specific expertise, as well as their ability to use that knowledge to coach others, interpret complex information, and make informed decisions. Employees strong in this area actively stay current through professional development, participate in technical communities, and foster a culture of learning by hosting knowledge-sharing sessions and mentoring staff. The emphasis is on what the manager knows and how they use that knowledge to elevate team performance and technical fluency.
- Is knowledgeable of procedures or systems necessary for the job.
- Provides real-time coaching during code reviews, design discussions, or incident response.
- Provides staff with a basic understanding of highly technical issues.
- Develops and maintains technical "know-how" in the department.
- Hosts regular knowledge-sharing sessions to disseminate best practices and lessons learned.
- Is knowledgeable of procedures or systems necessary for their job.
- Understands how different combinations of technical solutions may impact business operations.
- Leverages technical knowledge to train and advance department staff.
- Participates in technical communities, webinars, and forums to stay informed on industry developments.
- Leverages knowledge to facilitate the understanding of technical reports.
DocumentationDocumentation focuses on the externalization and preservation of technical knowledge. It involves creating, maintaining, and organizing written or digital records--such as manuals, runbooks, reports, and knowledge bases--that ensure continuity, clarity, and accessibility. Employees who excel in Documentation ensure that technical processes, decisions, and lessons learned are captured in a structured, accurate, and user-friendly format. While Knowledge is about possessing and transmitting expertise, Documentation is about codifying and institutionalizing it so that others can access and apply it independently, even in the manager's absence.
- Implements internal wikis, runbooks, or documentation hubs to support self-directed learning.
- Maintains oversight of technical documentation, ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and version control.
- Documents technical processes, configurations, and decisions for future reference and continuity.
- Documents failure modes and corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
- Creates and maintains accessible technical documentation and knowledge bases.
- Presents technical reports in a way that is easy to understand.
- Updates technical documentation when equipment or procedures are changed.
- Designs technical reports that are easy to read and interpret.
- Reads technical manuals/reports as needed.
Decision Making and PlanningDecision Making and Planning emphasizes how managers use information, frameworks, and foresight to make sound technical choices and prepare for future needs. It involves evaluating options, forecasting resource demands, coordinating deployments, and aligning technical initiatives with broader strategic goals. Managers strong in this area apply structured thinking to navigate complexity, balance trade-offs, and mitigate risk. Their focus is on what decisions to make and how to sequence them--ensuring that technical actions are intentional, well-timed, and aligned with long-term objectives.
- Uses data and stakeholder input to make timely, well-reasoned technical decisions.
- Evaluates systems for technical efficiency and usability.
- Evaluates multiple technical options and selects the one that best balances cost, risk, and performance.
- Forecasts future technical needs based on usage trends, system performance, and organizational growth.
- Assesses the downstream impact of technical decisions on users, systems, and teams.
- Quantifies technical risk (security, reliability, scalability) and plans for appropriate mitigations.
- Manages technical risk by identifying vulnerabilities and implementing mitigation plans.
- Integrates technical roadmaps with broader operational or product strategies.
- Implements long-term strategic plans to continue to meet the department's technical needs.
- Coordinates technical handoffs and deployments to minimize disruption and ensure continuity.
- Estimates technical effort and resource needs for upcoming projects.
- Understands basic data and analytics to make informed decisions.
- Applies structured decision frameworks (e.g., decision matrices, trade-off analyses) to complex technical choices.
MeasuresMeasures focuses on the quantification, monitoring, and evaluation of technical performance. It reflects a manager's ability to define meaningful metrics, build dashboards, and use data to track progress, detect issues, and benchmark against peers. While Decision Making and Planning may use data as an input, Measures is about creating and maintaining the systems that generate that data. It's more operational and diagnostic--concerned with how well systems are performing, how to quantify effectiveness, and how to surface insights that drive improvement. In essence, Measures provides the instrumentation; Decision Making and Planning uses that instrumentation to steer.
- Uses quantitative metrics to set technical priorities and measure progress.
- Benchmarks systems and processes against peers and industry norms to identify improvement opportunities.
- Monitors technical risk assessment issues that may impact the organization.
- Uses automated testing and CI pipelines to verify behavior across environments.
- Implements technical standards and benchmarks to maintain a competitive edge in the industry.
- Establishes technical KPIs and reporting mechanisms to track system health and team performance.
- Establishes technical metrics and KPIs to measure effectiveness and guide improvements.
- Monitors system performance and availability, proactively addressing bottlenecks and outages.
- Builds dashboards and KPIs to monitor system health and team performance.
- Develops new KPIs and technical indicators.
- Monitors KPIs and technical indicators to keep ahead of industry peers.
RolesRoles emphasizes the formal positions, functions, and responsibilities an employee assumes to drive technical outcomes. These roles are often structural and visible--such as leading technical projects, advising senior leadership, chairing committees, or serving as the technical point of contact across teams. They reflect how a manager is positioned within the technical ecosystem: not just what they do, but what role they play in enabling execution, governance, and strategic alignment. Roles often involve coordination, representation, and accountability at the system or organizational level, signaling authority, ownership, and influence in technical domains.
- Acts as a technical advisor to senior leadership, translating complex issues into actionable insights.
- Oversees technical onboarding for new hires, ensuring alignment with team practices and tools.
- Chairs the technical steering committees or working groups.
- Maintains membership in technical societies and associations.
- Leads technical due diligence during vendor selection, acquisitions, or major investments.
- Provides technical assistance to the project team.
- Participates in audits and compliance reviews, ensuring systems meet regulatory and security requirements.
- Coordinates cross-functional dependencies to ensure smooth technical execution.
- Serves as the technical point of contact for cross-functional initiatives and external partners.
- Plays a key technical role on the team.
- Participates in the development of guidelines and policies around technical information.
- Leads technical projects, coordinating resources, timelines, and deliverables to successful completion.
SupportiveSupportive highlights the interpersonal and enabling behaviors a manager uses to help others succeed in technical contexts. It is less about formal authority and more about responsiveness, accessibility, and advocacy. Supportive employees ensure others have what they need--whether that's onboarding materials, access to information, or encouragement to contribute to technical decisions. They translate complex findings, hire for capability gaps, and reinforce compliance not as enforcers, but as enablers. While Roles define where a manager stands in the technical structure, Supportive reflects how they show up for others--especially in moments of learning, transition, or uncertainty.
- Ensures compliance with industry standards, regulations, and internal technical policies.
- Hires technical analysts as needed.
- Gives support for technical advances.
- Develops onboarding materials to accelerate new hires' technical ramp-up.
- Translates technical findings into clear, data-backed recommendations for stakeholders.
- Supports employee input to make timely, well-reasoned technical decisions.
- Gives support to employees for access to technical information/reports.
Employee Opinion Survey Items
Employees with high Technical skills help organizations and departments by elevating the quality, reliability, and efficiency of every system, process, and solution they touch. They bring deep expertise, strong analytical judgment, and disciplined design and troubleshooting practices that prevent failures, reduce downtime, and drive smarter decision-making. Their ability to adopt new technologies, build reusable frameworks, document knowledge, and train others strengthens the entire technical ecosystem, not just their own work. Ultimately, they act as force multipliers--improving performance, accelerating innovation, and creating a more resilient, informed, and continuously improving organization.
Technical SkillsTechnical 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 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.
- Our department develops procedures to revitalize and enhance technical competence.
- My coworkers know how to produce high quality products/work.
- My manager translates complex technical concepts into clear, actionable language for nontechnical stakeholders.
- The company ensures employees have the necessary technical skills to be successful.
- My manager is authoritative and well balanced.
- The project manager matches work to team members' current technical skills while providing stretch assignments to support growth.
ExpertiseExpertise 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.
- My supervisor offers expert advice that provides immediate value to the organization.
- 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 has technical and legal expertise relevant to company's growth and business expectations.
- Our manager uses expertise to identify issues and think through creative solutions to get a problem solved or objective accomplished.
- My manager has technical expertise in many areas important for the department.
- Supervisors provide a valuable source of technical information for the department.
- My team leader leverages technical expertise in the policy-making process.
- The project lead demonstrates mastery of the technical competencies required in his/her work.
- My manager willingly shares his/her technical expertise; sought out as resource by others.
InformationInformation 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.
- Coworkers in my department seek information from others as needed.
- My coworkers are a good source of technical information.
- Our department ensures accurate technical information is available.
- My manager contributes to the development of internal frameworks, libraries, or reusable components.
- Leaders provide technical information for strategic decision making.
- My supervisor increases the flow of technical information and analysis.
- Our manager shares information and experience; sought out as resource by others.
- My team improves staff access to technical information.
- The project manager provides valuable scientific and technical information.
- Our team creates a clearinghouse of technical information.
- The supervisor provides technical information and analysis.
AnalysisAnalysis 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.
- Colleagues triage incidents by severity and probable cause to focus remediation efforts.
- Our department analyzes test results and iterates on solutions based on evidence.
- The project manager breaks complex problems into testable hypotheses and experiments.
- The supervisor performs cost-benefit analysis when evaluating new tools or platforms.
- My manager segments data to identify high-impact areas for technical investment.
- 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.
- The company leverages data and analytics to inform technical decisions and prioritize work.
- My supervisor applies technical analysis to meet the needs of the team.
- Colleagues conduct scientific and technical inquiries.
- My team applies risk analysis to find the most effective implementation methodology.
- Colleagues coordinate the technical analysis of operations/performance data.
Tools and EquipmentTools 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.
- The supervisor evaluates third-party tools and vendors to recommend fit, cost, and integration impact.
- My manager gives technical advice regarding appropriate equipment maintenance.
- 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.
- My manager leads pilot programs to test new technical tools, gathering feedback and assessing scalability before broader adoption.
- Leaders provide staff with equipment and technical skills to be successful.
- My manager ensures the department is provided with the necessary equipment and technical expertise to use it.
- My team leader adapts emerging tools and platforms to meet evolving business needs.
- Employees at the company monitor tool utilization and performance metrics, identifying underused or outdated equipment and recommending upgrade or decommissioning.
Systems and DesignSystems 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.
- The project leader integrates cross-functional requirements into technical designs to support business objectives.
- The supervisor adapts new technologies to better meet the needs of the department.
- Coworkers in my department adapt procedures to work more effectively in a technical setting.
- My manager optimizes code, processes, and workflows to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
- The team leader selects the optimal design to meet the technical needs of the department.
- My supervisor automates repetitive tasks to increase reliability and free staff for higher-value work.
- I know how to implement security best practices to protect systems, data, and intellectual property.
- The project manager designs solutions with scalability and maintainability in mind for long-term use.
- 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 plans for system scalability and maintainability during early design phases.
ImplementationImplementation 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 team coordinates the implementation of new technologies.
- Supervisors select technical solutions that provide scalability.
- The supervisor designs procedures to effectively implement new technologies.
- Our department performs dependency impact analysis before implementing major changes.
- Team members implement advanced technical solutions to streamline business operations.
- Our team develops multi-phase implementation plans that align with evolving technical requirements and business goals.
- My manager defines acceptance criteria and test plans before implementation.
- Our team monitors staff usage of new procedures to ensure successful implementation of new technologies.
- Our department creates detailed implementation plans for new tools, systems, or infrastructure changes.
TroubleshootingTroubleshooting 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.
- Associates perform root cause analysis to prevent recurrence of technical failures.
- My manager helps the department with complex technical issues.
- Colleagues optimize the solutions to complex technical problems.
- My team implements monitoring and alerting tools to detect anomalies before they escalate into failures.
- The project manager identifies technical bottlenecks and failure points and proactively plans mitigations.
- Colleagues escalate persistent technical issues with clear documentation, including logs, reproduction steps, and impact analysis.
- 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.
- Coworkers in my department lead root cause investigations using structured techniques (e.g., 5 Whys, fishbone).
- My manager understands how best to approach complex technical problems that affect coworkers.
- My supervisor facilitates post-incident reviews to identify systemic causes and drive long-term fixes.
- My manager guides team members through structured debugging sessions, modeling how to isolate variables and test hypotheses.
- The team leader anticipates failure scenarios during planning and builds in diagnostic hooks or fallback mechanisms.
TrainingTraining 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 supervisor designs and delivers technical workshops tailored to team needs and skill gaps.
- Colleagues complete certifications or advanced coursework to deepen domain expertise.
- Coworkers in my department engage in peer learning by shadowing experts or participating in cross-functional technical reviews.
- The project manager coaches engineers on analytical methods and evidence-based debugging.
- The members of my team update technical and professional competencies through classroom training and attending workshops.
- Managers inform and educate department staff on technical issues.
- My manager mentors and develops junior technical staff, building team capability and succession.
- 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.
- My team leader pursues opportunities for advanced education and training.
Continuous ImprovementContinuous 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 team implements continuous improvement loops driven by data.
- My department drives continuous improvement by soliciting feedback, measuring outcomes, and iterating on technical solutions.
- Our department analyzes workflows to remove waste and reduce cycle time.
- My manager applies quality assurance methodologies to ensure deliverables meet specifications and user needs.
- Managers improve operations through optimized resource allocation.
- My manager creates runbooks and playbooks based on analyzed incident data to continually improve operations.
- My coworkers champion technical standards, best practices, and governance across the organization.
KnowledgeKnowledge 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Managers provide staff with a basic understanding of highly technical issues.
- The members of my team develop and maintain technical "know-how" in the department.
- Supervisors leverage technical knowledge to train and advance department staff.
- My supervisor hosts regular knowledge-sharing sessions to disseminate best practices and lessons learned.
- Managers provide real-time coaching during code reviews, design discussions, or incident response.
DocumentationDocumentation 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.
- Supervisors design technical reports that are easy to read and interpret.
- My manager implements internal wikis, runbooks, or documentation hubs to support self-directed learning.
- The project manager maintains oversight of technical documentation, ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and version control.
- Our department creates and maintains accessible technical documentation and knowledge bases.
- Employees in my department update technical documentation when equipment or procedures are changed.
- The members of my team document technical processes, configurations, and decisions for future reference and continuity.
- My coworkers document failure modes and corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
- Coworkers in my department read technical manuals/reports as needed.
- Our team presents technical reports in a way that is easy to understand.
Decision Making and PlanningDecision 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.
- The project manager estimates technical efforts and resources needed for upcoming projects.
- Our team applies structured decision frameworks (e.g., decision matrices, trade-off analyses) to complex technical choices.
- Company leaders manage technical risk by identifying vulnerabilities and implementing mitigation plans.
- 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.
- Our department evaluates systems for technical efficiency and usability.
- Our department coordinates technical handoffs and deployments to minimize disruption and ensure continuity.
- Managers quantify technical risks (security, reliability, scalability) and plan for appropriate mitigations.
- My manager evaluates multiple technical options and selects the one that best balances cost, risk, and performance.
- Team members implement long-term strategic plans to continue to meet the department's technical needs.
- The supervisor forecasts future technical needs based on usage trends, system performance, and organizational growth.
- The members of my team understand basic data and analytics to make informed decisions.
MeasuresMeasures 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.
- Colleagues use automated testing and CI pipelines to verify behavior across environments.
- Our department benchmarks systems and processes against peers and industry norms to identify improvement opportunities.
- 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.
- Our department establishes technical metrics and KPIs to measure effectiveness and guide improvements.
- My team establishes technical KPIs and reporting mechanisms to track system health and team performance.
- Colleagues monitor system performance and availability, proactively addressing bottlenecks and outages.
- The company develops new KPIs and technical indicators.
RolesRoles 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.
- The project leader participates in audits and compliance reviews, ensuring systems meet regulatory and security requirements.
- 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.
- Associates maintain membership in technical societies and associations.
- Our team coordinates cross-functional dependencies to ensure smooth technical execution.
- My manager participates in the development of guidelines and policies around technical information.
- The supervisor leads technical due diligence during vendor selection, acquisitions, or major investments.
- My supervisor provides technical assistance to the project team.
- My manager leads technical projects, coordinating resources, timelines, and deliverables to successful completion.
- The supervisor plays a key technical role on the team.
- The project manager acts as a technical advisor to senior leadership, translating complex issues into actionable insights.
SupportiveSupportive 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 team ensures compliance with industry standards, regulations, and internal technical policies.
- My department translates technical findings into clear, data-backed recommendations for stakeholders.
- My department gives support for technical advances.
- Supervisors develop onboarding materials to accelerate new hires' technical ramp-up.
- The project lead hires technical analysts as needed.
- The supervisor gives support to employees for access to technical information/reports.
- My supervisor supports employee input to make timely, well-reasoned technical decisions.
Self-Assessment Items
Technical SkillsTechnical Skills refer to an employee's ability to apply specific tools, methods, and processes to produce high-quality technical work and lead others in doing the same. This includes not only maintaining and updating one's own technical capabilities, but also ensuring that team members possess the necessary skills to succeed. Employees strong in Technical Skills are operationally effective: they assign work based on assessed proficiency, develop procedures to enhance team competence, and translate complex concepts into actionable guidance. Their strength lies in execution--delivering results, fostering growth, and applying technical knowledge to improve systems, products, and workflows.
- You know how to produce high quality products/work.
- I match work to team members' current technical skills while providing stretch assignments to support growth.
- You are authoritative and well balanced.
- I update my technical skills.
- I create important technical innovations.
- You ensure employees have the necessary technical skills to be successful.
- You assign tasks base on assessed technical proficiency to ensure work is completed efficiently.
- You develop procedures to revitalize and enhance technical competence.
- I offer clear technical input and advice into the operations.
- I translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable language for nontechnical stakeholders.
ExpertiseExpertise reflects the depth, breadth, and influence of an employee's technical knowledge. It is demonstrated through mastery of complex subject matter, the ability to generate innovative solutions, and the credibility to advise others across functions or domains. Employees with strong Expertise are recognized as thought leaders and trusted resources; they are frequently consulted for their judgment, contribute to policy and strategy, and shape organizational direction through their insights. Expertise is about being--being the person others turn to for authoritative, high-impact technical guidance.
- You demonstrate mastery of the technical competencies required in your work.
- You use expertise to identify issues and think through creative solutions to get a problem solved or objective accomplished.
- You are naturally sought out by people outside your particular area for advice and opinion on a broad range of matters - not necessarily solely legal advice.
- You willingly share your technical expertise; sought out as resource by others
- You have technical expertise in many areas important for the department.
- You make legal expertise relevant to company's growth and business expectations.
- I offer expert advice that provides immediate value to the organization.
- You leverage technical expertise in the policy-making process.
- I provide a valuable source of technical information for the department.
InformationInformation emphasizes the gathering, organizing, curating, and sharing of technical knowledge. It reflects an employee's role as a conduit and steward of information--ensuring that accurate, relevant, and timely technical data is accessible to others. This includes building repositories, improving access, contributing to reusable resources, and being a reliable source of expertise. It's about enabling others to act by making technical knowledge visible, structured, and available. Employees strong in this area are often sought out for their ability to connect people with the right information and to foster a culture of transparency and knowledge flow.
- You seek information from others as needed.
- You willingly share information and experience; sought out as resource by others
- I am a good source of technical information.
- I provide valuable scientific and technical information.
- I contribute to the development of internal frameworks, libraries, or reusable components.
- I ensure accurate technical information is available.
- You increase the flow of technical information and analysis.
- I provide technical information for strategic decision making.
- You provide technical information and analysis.
- You create a clearinghouse of technical information.
- I improve staff access to technical information.
AnalysisAnalysis focuses on the interpretation, evaluation, and application of technical data to solve problems, make decisions, and improve systems. It involves critical thinking, experimentation, and evidence-based reasoning--breaking down complex issues, identifying patterns, validating hypotheses, and drawing conclusions that inform action. Employees demonstrating strong analytical capability don't just possess or distribute information--they interrogate it, test it, and use it to drive technical insight, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- I apply technical analysis to meet the needs of the team.
- I conduct scientific and technical inquiries.
- I design controlled experiments (A/B tests, canary releases) to validate changes.
- I analyze test results and iterate on solutions based on evidence.
- I segment data to identify high-impact areas for technical investment.
- I leverage data and analytics to inform technical decisions and prioritize work.
- I validate solutions through rigorous testing and verification before deployment.
- You apply risk analysis to find the most effective implementation methodology.
- You triage incidents by severity and probable cause to focus remediation efforts.
- I perform cost-benefit analysis when evaluating new tools or platforms.
- I break complex problems into testable hypotheses and experiments.
- You coordinate the technical analysis of operations/performance data.
Tools and EquipmentTools and Equipment focuses on the selection, deployment, maintenance, and effective use of tangible technologies--such as software platforms, hardware, and specialized tools--that enable technical work. It emphasizes operational readiness: ensuring the team has access to the right tools, knows how to use them safely and effectively, and can rely on them to perform consistently. Employees strong in this area evaluate vendor options, lead pilots, monitor tool performance, and collaborate with IT and procurement to align tools with business needs. They also establish protocols for configuration and access, train staff, and adapt emerging tools to evolving workflows.
- You evaluate third-party tools and vendors to recommend fit, cost, and integration impact.
- You establish protocols for tool configuration, version control, and access management.
- I lead pilot programs to test new technical tools, gather feedback and assess scalability before broader adoption.
- I give technical advice regarding appropriate equipment maintenance.
- You provide staff with equipment and technical skills to be successful.
- I ensure the department is provided with the necessary equipment and technical expertise to use it.
- You adapt emerging tools and platforms to meet evolving business needs.
- You train team members on the effective and safe use of specialized tools and equipment, ensuring consistent standards and minimizing misuse or downtime.
- I monitor tool utilization and performance metrics, identify underused or outdated equipment and recommend upgrades or decommissioning.
- You collaborate with procurement and IT teams to align tool selection with technical requirements, budget constraints, and long-term support needs.
Systems and DesignSystems and Design centers on the architecture, integration, and optimization of technical systems and processes. It reflects a manager's ability to design scalable, secure, and maintainable solutions that meet complex requirements. This includes applying design methodologies, automating workflows, integrating cross-functional needs, and planning for long-term system evolution. Systems and Design is about how everything fits together--the logic, structure, and intentionality behind technical solutions. It's more abstract and architectural, often involving trade-offs, future-proofing, and systemic thinking.
- You adapt procedures to work more effectively in a technical setting.
- You optimize code, processes, and workflows to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
- I adapt new technologies to better meet the needs of the department.
- You design new technical solutions to meet the needs of the project.
- You implement security best practices to protect systems, data, and intellectual property.
- You optimize use of new technologies to streamline business operations.
- You automate repetitive tasks to increase reliability and free staff for higher-value work.
- You apply standard design methods to develop robust technical solutions.
- I integrate cross-functional requirements into technical designs to support business objectives.
- You select the optimal design to meet the technical needs of the department.
- I plan for system scalability and maintainability during early design phases.
- I design solutions with scalability and maintainability in mind for long-term use.
ImplementationImplementation focuses on planning, coordinating, and executing the introduction of new technologies, systems, or procedures. It emphasizes proactive design, structured rollout, and long-term alignment with business goals. Employees strong in Implementation create detailed plans, define success criteria, and ensure that new tools or processes are adopted effectively across teams. Their work is forward-looking and systematic--anticipating needs, aligning resources, and optimizing the deployment of innovations to improve technical operations. Implementation is about building and embedding change into the technical environment in a way that is scalable, sustainable, and aligned with strategic objectives.
- I develop multi-phase implementation plans that align with evolving technical requirements and business goals.
- I perform dependency impact analysis before implementing major changes.
- I coordinate the implementation of new technologies.
- You design procedures to effectively implement new technologies.
- You select technical solutions that provide scalability.
- I define acceptance criteria and test plans before implementation.
- I implement advanced technical solutions to streamline business operations.
- You create detailed implementation plans for new tools, systems, or infrastructure changes.
- You optimize the implementation and adoption of innovative technologies.
- I monitor staff usage of new procedures to ensure successful implementation of new technologies.
- You coordinate adoption of advanced technologies to address skills shortages.
TroubleshootingTroubleshooting centers on responding to and resolving technical problems--especially when systems fail, behave unexpectedly, or underperform. It emphasizes diagnostic thinking, root cause analysis, and rapid response. Employees skilled in Troubleshooting apply structured methods to isolate issues, guide teams through debugging, and implement fixes that prevent recurrence. Troubleshooting is about stabilizing and recovering from disruption. It often operates under pressure, requiring clarity, calm, and technical depth to restore functionality and learn from failure. In essence, Troubleshooting is the discipline of making things work again, while Implementation is about making new things work well.
- You guide team members through structured debugging sessions, modeling how to isolate variables and test hypotheses.
- I help the department with complex technical issues.
- I understand how best to approach complex technical problems that affect coworkers.
- I identify technical bottlenecks and failure points and proactively plan mitigations.
- You lead root cause investigations using structured techniques (e.g., 5 Whys, fishbone).
- You facilitate post-incident reviews to identify systemic causes and drive long-term fixes.
- You implement monitoring and alerting tools to detect anomalies before they escalate into failures.
- You apply systematic troubleshooting methods to diagnose and resolve technical problems.
- You perform root cause analysis to prevent recurrence of technical failures.
- I maintain a knowledge base of resolved issues, enabling faster troubleshooting and shared learning.
- You escalate persistent technical issues with clear documentation, including logs, reproduction steps, and impact analysis.
- You optimize the solutions to complex technical problems.
- I anticipate failure scenarios during planning and build in diagnostic hooks or fallback mechanisms.
TrainingTraining emphasizes the development and transfer of knowledge and skills. It focuses on how managers and teams acquire, share, and deepen technical capabilities--whether through formal education, certifications, workshops, mentoring, or peer learning. Training is about building technical capacity: equipping individuals and teams with the tools, understanding, and confidence to perform their roles effectively. Employees strong in this area not only pursue their own learning but also design and deliver learning opportunities for others, ensuring that technical knowledge is current, accessible, and aligned with team needs.
- You keep current with technical advances within your professional discipline; embrace and apply new techniques and practices
- You pursue opportunities for advanced education and training.
- I provide staff with technical training.
- You complete certifications or advanced coursework to deepen domain expertise.
- I design and deliver technical workshops tailored to team need and skill gaps.
- You engage in peer learning by shadowing experts or participating in cross-functional technical reviews.
- You inform and educate department staff on technical issues.
- I coach engineers on analytical methods and evidence-based debugging.
- I mentor and develop junior technical staff, building team capability and succession.
- I update technical and professional competencies through classroom training and attending workshops.
Continuous ImprovementContinuous Improvement centers on systematically enhancing technical processes, tools, and outcomes over time. It is driven by data, feedback, and a mindset of iteration. While training may be one input to improvement, Continuous Improvement focuses on applying lessons learned to optimize workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and raise quality standards. Employees who excel here embed feedback loops, implement best practices, and use metrics to guide refinements. The emphasis is less on individual skill-building and more on evolving the technical system itself--its processes, standards, and performance--toward greater effectiveness and resilience.
- I seek out emerging technical trends and integrate relevant innovations into team practices.
- I create runbooks and playbooks base on analyzed incident data to continually improve operations.
- I analyze workflows to remove waste and reduce cycle time.
- You improve operations through optimized resource allocation.
- You drive continuous improvement by soliciting feedback, measuring outcomes, and iterating on technical solutions.
- I apply quality assurance methodologies to ensure deliverables meet specifications and user needs.
- I implement continuous improvement loops driven by data.
- I champion technical standards, best practices, and governance across the organization.
KnowledgeKnowledge refers to the internalization, application, and sharing of technical understanding. It encompasses a manager's grasp of systems, procedures, and domain-specific expertise, as well as their ability to use that knowledge to coach others, interpret complex information, and make informed decisions. Employees strong in this area actively stay current through professional development, participate in technical communities, and foster a culture of learning by hosting knowledge-sharing sessions and mentoring staff. The emphasis is on what the manager knows and how they use that knowledge to elevate team performance and technical fluency.
- You are knowledgeable of procedures or systems necessary for the job.
- You provide real-time coaching during code reviews, design discussions, or incident response.
- I develop and maintain technical "know-how" in the department.
- I participate in technical communities, webinars, and forums to stay informed on industry developments.
- You host regular knowledge-sharing sessions to disseminate best practices and lessons learned.
- You provide staff with a basic understanding of highly technical issues.
- I understand how different combinations of technical solutions may impact business operations.
- I leverage technical knowledge to train and advance department staff.
- You are knowledgeable of procedures or systems necessary for your job.
- You leverage knowledge to facilitate the understanding of technical reports.
DocumentationDocumentation focuses on the externalization and preservation of technical knowledge. It involves creating, maintaining, and organizing written or digital records--such as manuals, runbooks, reports, and knowledge bases--that ensure continuity, clarity, and accessibility. Employees who excel in Documentation ensure that technical processes, decisions, and lessons learned are captured in a structured, accurate, and user-friendly format. While Knowledge is about possessing and transmitting expertise, Documentation is about codifying and institutionalizing it so that others can access and apply it independently, even in the manager's absence.
- I update technical documentation when equipment or procedures are changed.
- You create and maintain accessible technical documentation and knowledge bases.
- I read technical manuals/reports as needed.
- You present technical reports in a way that is easy to understand.
- I design technical reports that are easy to read and interpret.
- You maintain oversight of technical documentation, ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and version control.
- I implement internal wikis, runbooks, or documentation hubs to support self-directed learning.
- You document failure modes and corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
- I document technical processes, configurations, and decisions for future reference and continuity.
Decision Making and PlanningDecision Making and Planning emphasizes how managers use information, frameworks, and foresight to make sound technical choices and prepare for future needs. It involves evaluating options, forecasting resource demands, coordinating deployments, and aligning technical initiatives with broader strategic goals. Managers strong in this area apply structured thinking to navigate complexity, balance trade-offs, and mitigate risk. Their focus is on what decisions to make and how to sequence them--ensuring that technical actions are intentional, well-timed, and aligned with long-term objectives.
- I estimate technical effort and resource needs for upcoming projects.
- I assess the downstream impact of technical decisions on users, systems, and teams.
- You evaluate systems for technical efficiency and usability.
- You understand basic data and analytics to make informed decisions.
- You implement long-term strategic plans to continue to meet the department's technical needs.
- I manage technical risk by identifying vulnerabilities and implementing mitigation plans.
- I quantify technical risk (security, reliability, scalability) and plan for appropriate mitigations.
- You coordinate technical handoffs and deployments to minimize disruption and ensure continuity.
- I forecast future technical needs based on usage trends, system performance, and organizational growth.
- I evaluate multiple technical options and select the one that best balances cost, risk, and performance.
- I integrate technical roadmaps with broader operational or product strategies.
- I use data and stakeholder input to make timely, well-reasoned technical decisions.
- You apply structured decision frameworks (e.g., decision matrices, trade-off analyses) to complex technical choices.
MeasuresMeasures focuses on the quantification, monitoring, and evaluation of technical performance. It reflects a manager's ability to define meaningful metrics, build dashboards, and use data to track progress, detect issues, and benchmark against peers. While Decision Making and Planning may use data as an input, Measures is about creating and maintaining the systems that generate that data. It's more operational and diagnostic--concerned with how well systems are performing, how to quantify effectiveness, and how to surface insights that drive improvement. In essence, Measures provides the instrumentation; Decision Making and Planning uses that instrumentation to steer.
- I benchmark systems and processes against peers and industry norms to identify improvement opportunities.
- I use automated testing and CI pipelines to verify behavior across environments.
- You use quantitative metrics to set technical priorities and measure progress.
- You establish technical KPIs and reporting mechanisms to track system health and team performance.
- I monitor technical risk assessment issues that may impact the organization.
- I establish technical metrics and KPIs to measure effectiveness and guide improvements.
- You develop new KPIs and technical indicators.
- I implement technical standards and benchmarks to maintain a competitive edge in the industry.
- I build dashboards and KPIs to monitor system health and team performance.
- I monitor KPIs and technical indicators to keep ahead of industry peers.
- You monitor system performance and availability, proactively addressing bottlenecks and outages.
RolesRoles emphasizes the formal positions, functions, and responsibilities an employee assumes to drive technical outcomes. These roles are often structural and visible--such as leading technical projects, advising senior leadership, chairing committees, or serving as the technical point of contact across teams. They reflect how a manager is positioned within the technical ecosystem: not just what they do, but what role they play in enabling execution, governance, and strategic alignment. Roles often involve coordination, representation, and accountability at the system or organizational level, signaling authority, ownership, and influence in technical domains.
- You chair the technical steering committees or working groups.
- You coordinate cross-functional dependencies to ensure smooth technical execution.
- You participate in audit and compliance reviews, ensuring systems meet regulatory and security requirements.
- I provide technical assistance to the project team.
- I maintain membership in technical societies and associations.
- I act as a technical advisor to senior leadership, translating complex issues into actionable insights.
- You participate in the development of guidelines and policies around technical information.
- You oversee technical onboarding for new hires, ensuring alignment with team practices and tools.
- I lead technical projects, coordinate resources, timelines, and deliverables to successful completion.
- I play a key technical role on the team.
- I lead technical due diligence during vendor selection, acquisitions, or major investments.
- You serve as the technical point of contact for cross-functional initiatives and external partners.
SupportiveSupportive highlights the interpersonal and enabling behaviors a manager uses to help others succeed in technical contexts. It is less about formal authority and more about responsiveness, accessibility, and advocacy. Supportive employees ensure others have what they need--whether that's onboarding materials, access to information, or encouragement to contribute to technical decisions. They translate complex findings, hire for capability gaps, and reinforce compliance not as enforcers, but as enablers. While Roles define where a manager stands in the technical structure, Supportive reflects how they show up for others--especially in moments of learning, transition, or uncertainty.
- I ensure compliance with industry standards, regulations, and internal technical policies.
- You give support to employees for access to technical information/reports.
- I give support for technical advances.
- You develop onboarding materials to accelerate new hires' technical ramp-up.
- You support employee input to make timely, well-reasoned technical decisions.
- You hire technical analysts as needed.
- You translate technical findings into clear, data-backed recommendations for stakeholders.
Job Interview Questions
Technical Skills
- How do you match work to team members' current technical skills while providing stretch assignments to support growth?
- How do you assign tasks based on technical proficiency of the employee to ensure work is completed efficiently?
- In your previous position, did you offer clear technical input and advice into the operations?
- Did you update your technical skills?
- Explain how you developed procedures to revitalize and enhance technical competence.
- Tell me about a time when you translated complex technical concepts into clear, actionable language for nontechnical stakeholders.
- If hired, how would you ensure employees have the necessary technical skills to be successful?
- Would your coworkers say that you are authoritative and technically skilled?
- What important technical innovations did you create?
Expertise
- Tell me about a time when you offered expert advice that provides immediate value to the organization.
- Explain how you made your legal expertise relevant to company's growth and business expectations.
- Explain how your expertise was used to identify issues and think through creative solutions to get a problem solved or objective accomplished.
- In your previous position, how did you share your technical expertise; sought out as resource by other?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you demonstrated mastery of the technical competencies required of you in your work.
- Are you naturally sought out by people outside your particular area for advice and opinion on a broad range of matters - not necessarily solely legal advice?
- Do you have technical expertise in many areas important for the department?
- Have you leveraged technical expertise in the policy-making process?
- Give an example of how you provided valuable technical information for the department.
Information
- Give an example of how you have was a good source of technical information for others.
- Tell me about a time when you provided technical information and analysis.
- Tell me about a time when you provided valuable scientific and technical information.
- In your previous position, how did you share information and expertise; sought out as resource by other?
- What steps would you take to create a clearinghouse of technical information?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you improved staff access to technical information.
- Give an example of how you have ensured accurate technical information was available.
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you contributed to the development of internal frameworks, libraries, or reusable components.
- Share your thoughts on seeking information from others as needed.
- Do you provide technical information for strategic decision making?
- Give an example of how you increased the flow of technical information and analysis.
Analysis
- Did you validate solutions through rigorous testing and verification before deployment?
- Did you apply technical analysis to meet the needs of the team? Explain.
- Tell me about a time when you applied risk analysis to find the most effective implementation methodology.
- Did you analyze test results and iterate on solutions based on evidence?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you leveraged data and analytics to inform technical decisions and prioritize work.
- Describe how you coordinated the technical analysis of operations/performance data.
- What steps would you take to segment data to identify high-impact areas for technical investment?
- Did you perform cost-benefit analysis when evaluating new tools or platforms? How did you analyze this information? What decisions did you make?
- Tell me about a time you had to sort through multiple technical incidents or alerts at once. How did you determine what needed attention first, and what steps did you take to understand the likely cause?
- Give an example of how you conducted scientific and technical inquiries.
- What steps would you take to design controlled experiments (A/B tests, canary releases) to validate changes?
- Give an example of how you have broken down complex problems into testable hypotheses and experiments.
Tools and Equipment
- Give an example of how you have led pilot programs to test new technical tools, gather feedback and assess scalability before broader adoption.
- In your previous position, how did you adapt emerging tools and platforms to meet evolving business needs?
- Have you monitored tool utilization and performance metrics, identify underused or outdated equipment and recommend upgrades or decommissioning? Explain.
- Describe a situation where you were responsible for teaching others how to use a tool or piece of equipment. How did you ensure they followed the correct procedures and avoided errors or misuse?
- Describe how you evaluated third-party tools and vendors to recommend fit, cost, and integration impact.
- Tell me about a time you trained team members on the safe and effective use of specialized tools or equipment. What steps did you take to make sure they could use it correctly and consistently?
- How do you ensure the department is provided with the necessary equipment and technical expertise to use it?
- How do you give technical advice regarding appropriate equipment maintenance?
- How do you break down a complex tool or piece of equipment so that others can learn to use it safely and confidently? Can you share an example?
- Describe how you collaborated with procurement and IT teams to align tool selection with technical requirements, budget constraints, and long-term support needs.
- Were you able to provide staff with equipment and technical skills to be successful?
- How did you establish protocols for tool configuration, version control, and access management?
Systems and Design
- Give an example of how you planned for system scalability and maintainability during early design phases.
- Describe a recent project where you deliberately applied a design method--like modeling, prototyping, or architectural patterns--to shape your solution. Why did you choose that method, and what did it enable?
- Explain how you implemented security best practices to protect systems, data, and intellectual property.
- Describe how you adapted procedures to work more effectively in a technical setting.
- How would you adapt new technologies to better meet the needs of the department?
- What steps would you take to design solutions with scalability and maintainability in mind for long-term use?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you designed new technical solutions to meet the needs of the project.
- What repetitive tasks have you automated to increase reliability and free staff for higher-value work?
- Share your thoughts on selecting the optimal design to meet the technical needs of the department.
- In your previous position, how did you integrate cross-functional requirements into technical designs to support business objectives?
- Did you optimize code, processes, and workflows to improve efficiency and reduce waste? What steps did you take?
- Did you optimize use of new technologies to streamline business operations?
Implementation
- Describe your approach to performing dependency impact analysis before implementing major changes.
- Did you design procedures to effectively implement new technologies?
- Describe how you would develop multi-phase implementation plans that align with evolving technical requirements and business goals.
- Give an example of how you have defined acceptance criteria and test plans before implementation.
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you coordinated adoption of advanced technologies to address skills shortages.
- How would you implement advanced technical solutions to streamline business operations?
- How would you create detailed implementation plans for new tools, systems, or infrastructure changes?
- What steps would you take to select technical solutions that provide scalability?
- What steps would you take to coordinate the implementation of new technologies?
- Tell me about a time when you monitored the staff usage of new procedures to ensure successful implementation of new technologies.
- Have you optimized the implementation and adoption of innovative technologies?
Troubleshooting
- Did you implement monitoring and alerting tools to detect anomalies before they escalated into failures?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you identified technical bottlenecks and failure points and proactively plan mitigations.
- How would you use clear documentation, including logs, reproduction steps, and impact analysis to escalate persistent technical issues?
- In your previous role, were you responsible for anticipating failure scenarios and building in diagnostic hooks or fallback mechanisms? Can you give me a specific example? What failure scenario did you anticipate, and what did you design to detect or mitigate it?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you facilitated post-incident reviews to identify systemic causes and drive long-term fixes.
- Explain how you maintained a knowledge base of resolved issues, enabling faster troubleshooting and shared learning.
- Give an example of how you would perform root cause analysis to prevent recurrence of technical failures.
- What steps would you take to lead root cause investigations using structured techniques (e.g., 5 Whys, fishbone)?
- Give an example of how you guided team members through structured debugging sessions, modeling how to isolate variables and test hypotheses.
- Tell me about a time you realized coworkers were running into a technical problem before it was formally reported. What signs did you notice, and how did you decide how to approach it?
- In your previous position, have you helped the department with complex technical issues? What issues?
- Describe your approach to optimizing the solutions to complex technical problems.
- Describe a situation where you picked up on early signs that a technical problem was affecting coworkers. What clues did you see, and what did you do next?
Training
- In your previous position, how did you design and deliver technical workshops tailored to team need and skill gaps?
- Give an example of how you have engaged in peer learning by shadowing experts or participating in cross-functional technical reviews.
- Describe your approach to informing and educate department staff on technical issues.
- What opportunities for advanced education and training did you pursue.
- Did you complete certifications or advanced coursework to deepen your knowledge and expertise?
- Tell me about a time you had to stay current with new technical advances in your field. What did you do to learn them, and how did you apply what you learned?
- Tell me about a time when you mentored and develop junior technical staff, building team capability and succession.
- Did you provide staff with technical training?
- How do you coach engineers on analytical methods and evidence-based debugging?
- What technical and professional competencies have you personally updated?
Continuous Improvement
- Tell me about a time when you improved operations through optimized resource allocation.
- In your previous position, did you drive continuous improvement by soliciting feedback, measuring outcomes, and iterating on technical solutions?
- In your previous role, were you responsible for keeping up with new technical developments in your discipline? Can you give me an example of something new you learned and how you put it into practice?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you sought out emerging technical trends and integrate relevant innovations into team practices.
- Describe how you would implement continuous improvement loops driven by data.
- Describe how you championed technical standards, best practices, and governance across the organization.
- Explain how you applied quality assurance methodologies to ensure deliverables met specifications and user needs.
- Give an example of how you have created runbooks and playbooks base on analyzed incident data to continually improve operations.
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you analyzed workflows to remove waste and reduce cycle times.
Knowledge
- Explain what procedures or systems are necessary for your job.
- Explain how you participated in technical communities, webinars, and forums to stay informed on industry developments.
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you leveraged technical knowledge to train and advance department staff.
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you leveraged knowledge to facilitate the understanding of technical reports.
- How did different combinations of technical solutions impact your business operations?
- In your previous position, have you hosted regular knowledge-sharing sessions to disseminate best practices and lessons learned?
- Explain how you provided staff with a basic understanding of highly technical issues.
- Describe your approach to providing real-time coaching during code reviews, design discussions, or incident response.
- Give an example of some of the procedures or systems necessary for the job.
- Tell me about a time when you developed and maintained technical "know-how" in the department.
Documentation
- Describe how you would maintain oversight of technical documentation, ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and version control.
- In your previous position, have you presented technical reports in a way that was easy to understand?
- Have you updated technical documentation when equipment or procedures are changed?
- Do you read technical manuals/reports? What was the most recent report you read?
- Describe your approach to implementing internal wikis, runbooks, or documentation hubs to support self-directed learning.
- Tell me about a time when you documented failure modes and corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
- How do you document technical processes, configurations, and decisions for future reference and continuity?
- Give an example of how you created and maintained accessible technical documentation and knowledge bases.
- Give an example of how you designed technical reports that were easy to read and interpret.
Decision Making and Planning
- Describe your approach to understanding basic data and analytics to make informed decisions.
- In your previous role, were you responsible for assessing technical risks (such as security, reliability, or scalability) and planning mitigations? Can you walk me through a specific example of how you did that?
- Have you previously quantified technical risks (for example, security vulnerabilities, reliability concerns, or scalability limits) as part of your role? Tell me about a time you did that. How did you assess the risk, and what mitigation steps did you put in place?
- Did you implement long-term strategic plans to continue to meet the department's technical needs?
- Explain how you integrated technical roadmaps with broader operational or product strategies.
- Have you managed technical risk by identifying vulnerabilities and implementing mitigation plans?
- How did you coordinate technical handoffs and deployments to minimize disruption and ensure continuity?
- Describe your approach to evaluating multiple technical options and selecting the one that best balances cost, risk, and performance.
- How would you evaluate systems for technical efficiency and usability?
- What steps would you take to apply structured decision frameworks (e.g., decision matrices, trade-off analyses) to complex technical choices?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you forecasted future technical needs based on usage trends, system performance, and organizational growth.
- What steps would you take to assess the downstream impact of technical decisions on users, systems, and teams?
- Give an example of how you estimated technical effort and resource needs for upcoming projects.
Measures
- Tell me about a time you established technical metrics or KPIs to measure effectiveness or drive improvements. What did you choose to measure, and why?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you monitored technical risk assessment issues that may have impacted the organization.
- How do you develop new KPIs and technical indicators?
- Walk me through how you've gathered and evaluated external benchmarks (whether from peers, vendors, or industry standards) to assess your team's performance. What did you learn, and what did you change as a result?
- Explain how you monitored KPIs and technical indicators to keep ahead of industry peers.
- Describe a dashboard or KPI set you built that meaningfully improved visibility or decision-making. What changed as a result?
- Walk me through your process for creating dashboards or KPIs. How did you determine what to measure, how to visualize it, and how often it needed to be reviewed?
- Explain how you would use automated testing and CI pipelines to verify behavior across environments.
- Have you implemented technical standards and benchmarks to maintain a competitive edge in the industry? Which standards?
- Tell me about a time you compared your team's systems or processes to those used by peers or industry leaders. What did you look at, and how did that comparison influence the improvements you made?
- Tell me about a time when you established technical KPIs and reporting mechanisms to track system health and team performance.
- Describe a situation where you noticed early signs of a performance issue or potential outage. How did you diagnose the cause and prevent further impact?
- Walk me through how you identified which technical metrics or KPIs were most important for your team. How did you decide what would meaningfully reflect performance or system health?
Roles
- Do you maintain membership in technical societies and associations?
- What guidelines and policies did you develop around technical information?
- Give an example of how you coordinated cross-functional dependencies to ensure smooth technical execution.
- What kind of technical assistance did you provide to the project team?
- Did you participate in audit and compliance reviews, ensuring systems meet regulatory and security requirements?
- What steps did you take to chair the technical steering committees or working groups?
- Describe how you led technical projects, coordinate resources, timelines, and deliverables to successful completion.
- How did you act as a technical advisor to senior leadership, translating complex issues into actionable insights?
- Describe what you did to serve as the technical point of contact for cross-functional initiatives and external partners.
- In your previous position, did you lead technical due diligence during vendor selection, acquisitions, or major investments? What things did you look at when making those reviews?
- Do you play a key technical role on the team?
- Explain how you oversaw technical onboarding for new hires to ensure alignment with your team's practices and tools.
Supportive
- Describe how you gave support for technical advances.
- In your previous position, how did you support employee input to make timely, well-reasoned technical decisions? Give some concrete examples.
- Describe your approach to developing onboarding materials to accelerate new hires' technical ramp-up.
- Tell me about a time when you gave support to employees for access to technical information/reports.
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you ensured compliance with industry standards, regulations, and internal technical policies.
- Did you hire technical analysts as needed?
- How would you translate technical findings into clear, data-backed recommendations for stakeholders?