The Texas Detailed Work Activities (DWA) Common Language Project Richard Froeschle, TWC/LMCI richard.froeschle@twc.state.tx.us (512) 936-3105
2004
Ever feel like this in a meeting with government?
What is a SKILL? Stakeholders use different words. When you say skills do you mean SKILLS or Skills Competencies --Technical/Academic Tasks/Duties Talents Hiring Requirements Skill Objects Proficiencies Knowledge Personal Traits Learning Objects Abilities Academic Credentials Industry Certification Workplace Basics OJT/Experience Performance Mastery General Work Activities Detailed Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities: A domain in O*NET Broader than a task More specific than a competency A common structure for skills What is a DWA? Analyze engineering problems in electronics manufacturing. Action Object Modifier Object Statement Modifier
Balancing Act: the Real World vs. O*NET Employer Payroll Titles Compounders Clinical trials managers Top managers Top marketing personnel Line workers Project managers Lab technicians Shipping associates Production technicians Worker bees Laboratory assistants Federal SOC Taxonomy Medical scientist Environmental scientist Clinical lab technician Natural science manager Production, planning & expediting clerk Biological technician Medical lab technologist Market research analyst Marketing manager Medical/Health Service Mgr
Understanding Skills Gaps at a Meaningful Level Limitations of S/D Using a CIP to SOC Crosswalk Program (CIP) Crosswalk Occupation (SOC) Course Course Course Course Job Title Job Title Job Title Job Title Learning Outcome Learning Outcome Learning Outcome Learning Outcome DWA Skills DWA Skills DWA Skills DWA Skills Learning Outcome Learning Outcome Learning Outcome Learning Outcome DWA Skills DWA Skills DWA Skills DWA Skills Learning Outcome Learning Outcome Learning Outcome Learning Outcome DWA Skills DWA Skills DWA Skills DWA Skills
Three Major Applications of a DWA Common Language Conduct curriculum alignment ensure that training programs are aligned with market demand at the skill level Perform regional skills gaps analyses Identify skills composition of target industries and occupations and create training priorities Facilitate the labor exchange process match workers and postings at the skill level, not titles Worker Capabilities To Job Requirements
State of Texas (Public) Investments in DWAs Develop initial Texas DWA library by occupation (850 SOCs) with desktop audit of O*NET DWAs Conduct external validation of revised DWA library Develop Performance Levels for each DWA in each SOC occupation Crosswalk DWAs to CIP/WECM education programs Crosswalk DWAs to High School CTE TEKS Develop Workplace Basics Framework Assign and validate Workplace Basics to each DWA Create Center for Educational Outcomes (CEO) for on-going maintenance & update Investigate other applications for DWA library
Employer Validation Project Results We have engaged over 1,400 employers and 4,000 SMEs P.F Changs Sears Baylor Hospital Shriners Children UT Medical Raytheon IBM General Electric Bell Helicopter Lockheed Martin Jacobs Engineering Dow Chemical Shell MI-SWACO Seton Hospital Texas Instruments Texas Industries Austin Energy Center Point Energy Century 21 State Farm PSI, inc. Q Custom Clothier Quadratix, Inc FAA NASA US Navy Texas Reserves Global Industries Johnson Space Center Glover Coaching Gordon Boswell Flowers Grace Presbytery Grand Slam Fishing Grassburr Leather Works City of Carrollton City of College Station City of Corinth City of Dallas Lifetime Fitness Linda McAlister Talent Living Expressions Landscapes AT&T Futron Engineering
e.g. Resume e.g. Job Posting
Select the input file, in this case a resume in PDF format
The program brings in the text file for DWA processing. In this case it is a resume. It could also be a job posting or educational program
DWA Match Tool matches the resume against all SOC occupations and creates a thread score indicating the strength of match
The match and thread score are used to create an employment weighted DWA profile. DWAs are ordered based on Performance Level expectations and number of occurrences in target occupations
Select Match Option: Match their resume against The Conference Board s Help Wanted On Line job postings
The job postings that best match the resume are returned to the user. Each job posting is a live link so it can be applied for directly
DWA Application Activities in Development Develop a customer Remediation report showing which DWAs the client is missing. Create the ability to process multiple resumes in batch mode. Necessary to conduct group comparisons. Develop a Business Matrix report showing how a group of resumes align with a group of jobs or occupations. This yields a closed system regional skills gap analysis. Create DWA based Military SkillsPass Workplace Basics: Develop an additional measure of social competence linked to each DWA and occupation to further describe the requirements of a job situation
Workplace basic or foundation skills include judgements and behaviors that demonstrate work ethic and commitment, leadership and teamwork skills, initiative and integrity, and critical thinking skills that are in high demand by employers.
Sample: Workplace Basic Skills Profile for Waiters and Waitresses
Sample: Workplace Basic Skills Profile for Economist
SAMPLE: Workplace Basic Skills Profile for Chemical Engineers
The Detailed Work Activity skill statements have also been embedded in other TWC/LMCI career exploration and economic development applications EXAMPLES:
Texas CARES Online career exploration system includes the DWA skill profile for Texas occupations, along with other career information
DWAs are embedded in Texas Reality Check and labeled as important job skills for work performed on the job
For more on the Detailed Work Activity Common Language project go to http://www.lmci.state.tx.us/shared/dwa.asp