"Intelligence manifests itself as the possibility of varying one's behavior in a changing world." - Humberto Maturana
Evaluation is fundamental to the Next Generation Core Competencies implementation in workforce training and development programs.
The Next Generation Core Competencies and Performance Assessement
The Next Generation Core Competencies (NGCC) framework is readily actionable, observable, and measurable. In the workplace, the behavioral anchors and key actions associated with each competency can establish transparent metrics for workplace performance, outcomes for training programs, and the basis for procedures, policies, and strategies. Using the ket actions and behavioral anchors for performance assessment is addressed by the following.
Structured with action verbs derived from Bloom’s Taxonomy, the behavioral anchors and key actions invite action consistent with each of the core competencies at three distinct levels. Through articulating several actions that exemplify each competency, the behavioral anchors and key actions provide a metrics for evaluation.
The NGCC project was developed around the commonly used Behavioral Anchor Rating Scale (BARS) assessment instrument. BARS support objective self, peer, and superior assessment through establishing stable criteria for performance based on observable behaviors. During assessment, BARS seek a quantitative evaluation describing performance relative to the behavioral anchors and key actions and a narrative that explains the given rating. Evaluation can take place at any scale ranging from one individual to an entire organization
Download the BARS for Systems Literacy
Download the BARS for Leadership
Download the BARS for Critical Thinking
Download the BARS for Continual Learning
Download the BARS for Scientific Literacy
The sample BARS provided here allow for only a high-level analysis as they do not include the key actions that further expand the behavioral anchors.
Both the subject and the individual evaluating the subject should complete BARS. For the subject, the BARS provide an opening to evaluate and explain their performance with immediate knowledge of their own context. It is through the subject’s explanatory narrative that constraints, the appropriateness of the competencies within their context, gaps, and unique opportunities for development will emerge. Paired with the evaluator’s assessment, space is opened for collaborative learning and scaling development.
What does the assessment data indicate?
Quantitative data produced through evaluation expresses the degree of an evaluatee's (e.g., an individual, department, organization) alignment with the NGCCs. The narrative data then provides an explanation of the given rating that may include supportive behavioral samples, opportunities for improvement, and descriptions of constraints preventing the individual being evaluated from meeting the performance standards.
Results of the BARS can be analyzed on a variety of levels, for example:
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By individual subject and individual competency
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By individual subject and competency group
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Aggregated by individual competency and stratified by unique subject attributes (e.g., organizational role)
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Aggregated by competency group and stratified by unique subject attributes
The data can be analyzed on several different levels of granularity to provide an overall image of an organization, organizational level, or department, as well as focused analyses at the level of the individual. Results provide an assessment of the subject relative to the Core Competencies that may be used as a versatile evidence-base for training, strategy, decision-making, and organizational change and development.