Skill Descriptors
Core Application Systems: Knowledge of major production application systems used for delivery of services to internal and external clients; ability to leverage major production application systems in diverse situations.
Level Basic Understanding:
• Describes basic elements and benefits of core applications supported by own area.
• Names the organization’s core application systems.
• Names major business functions and services supported by core applications.
• Locates and uses relevant documentation for core applications.
Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.
Level Basic Understanding:
• Explains the value of a disciplined approach to problem solving.
• Describes problem reporting and escalation practices.
• Utilizes accepted procedures for problem analysis and resolution.
• Identifies key aspects of problem-solving techniques used in own area.
Application Design, Architecture: Knowledge of application design and architecture principles and practices; ability to utilize application design methodologies, tools, and techniques to convert business requirements and logical models into a technical application design.
Level Basic Understanding:
• Describes the role of design patterns and principles in application design and architecture.
• Identifies the basic components of an application design.
• Lists common application architecture styles, such as monolithic, microservices, and event-driven architecture.
• Explains the importance of scalability, security, and performance in application design and architecture.
Implementation: Knowledge of how to run applications for organizations; ability to implement application software within an organization and help end-users perform specific tasks (ex: accounting or graphic design).
Level Basic Understanding:
• Cites specific types of application software and their usage within an organization.
• Identifies problems commonly associated with application implementation.
• Lists main application software and vendors in the market place.
• Describes the general processes and policies of application implementation.
Requirements Analysis: Knowledge of tools, methods, and techniques of requirement analysis; ability to elicit, analyze and record required business functionality and non-functionality requirements to ensure the success of a system or software development project.
Level Basic Understanding:
• Cites examples of functional and non-functional requirements.
• Describes basic concepts and major activities associated with requirements analysis.
• Explains the life cycle context and scope of requirements analysis.
• Explains the structure and components of effective requirements analysis documents.
System and Technology Integration: Knowledge of the features and facilities of systems; ability to integrate and communicate among applications, databases and technology platforms.
Level Basic Understanding:
• Describes the basic concepts and issues of system and technology integration.
• Illustrates the risks and benefits of technology integration projects.
• Discusses major software, hardware or application integration initiatives and plans.
• Explains system integration initiatives in own environment.
System Testing: Knowledge of system and software testing; ability to design, plan and execute system testing strategies and tactics to ensure the quality of software at all stages of the system life cycle.
Level Basic Understanding:
• Describes major components of system testing used by the organization.
• Documents the standard processes and procedures involved in system testing.
• Explains the importance of thorough system testing prior to implementation.
• Identifies common errors that occur in standard system testing activities.