Assess your knowledge of business management mechanisms, processes, tools, and strategies. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Keep up-to-date with the latest trends in knowledge management through reading of periodicals, networking, Internet research, and other methods.
• Identify knowledge requirements and describe how they can most effectively be met.
• Describe the process involved in transforming a business environment to a culture committed to sharing knowledge and emphasizing integration, connection, and collaboration.
• Explain the impact of a company's strategy, objectives, culture, vision, etc. on knowledge management.
• Define and implement processes for sharing, researching, creating, exchanging and applying information and knowledge within an organization.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the various strategies and tools used to manage unstructured information and knowledge within an organization.

Assess your knowledge of business processes. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe fundamental business processes (sales, marketing, accounting, finance, IT, etc.) and how they relate to the total success of an organization.
• List and diagram the steps in the business process and show the handoffs involved.
• Diagram the workflow, identifying bottlenecks and efficiencies that exist.
• Explain the workflow and process steps to others to encourage recognition of how all activities fit in with the overall process flow.

Assess your knowledge of a specific company including its products, services, business strategies, culture, vision, strengths, etc. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Gather information from knowledgeable parties within the organization.
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of all current and new services offered by the company (e.g. gather information as necessary regarding new services).
• Maintain an awareness of current business strategies and objectives.
• Discuss how products and services are sold and delivered to business clients.
• Define the company's value to outside parties.
• Articulate how the company is uniquely structured to service and meet the needs of its target market.
• Explain the goals, objectives, and final deliverables associated with relevant past and current projects.

Assess your knowledge of legal processes. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Define, classify and discuss the fundamental principles and sources of the current legal system.
• Maintain current knowledge of state and federal regulations, constitutional checks and administrative agencies.
• Describe the court system and any alterative means of dispute settlement.
• Describe the pleadings and discovery phases of the legal process.
• Describe the trial and appellate processes.
• Discuss market and legal controls of business.

Assess your familiarity with the manufacturing business processes listed above including project manufacturing, discrete and batch manufacturing, repetitive, flow and continuous operations. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Keep up-to-date with the latest trends in this business area through reading of periodicals, customer interactions, Internet research and other methods.
• Describe the various manufacturing functions and processes.
• Describe the major problems and issues of the manufacturing industry based on your personal knowledge and work experience.

Assess your knowledge of e-Business. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Define e-Commerce and compare it to e-Business.
• Explain how e-Business can streamline business processes and the benefits that can be gained.
• Discuss the challenges of implementing e-Business solutions.
• Discuss how implementing e-Business impacts relationships with clients, partners, employees, and other stakeholders.
• List the stages in the e-Business cycle and discuss what is accomplished in each stage including how the new economy, new organization, and new technologies drive one another.
• Explain how current trends affect e-Business.

Assess your ability to employ e-Marketplace solutions. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand the fundamentals of the e-Marketplace, such as many-to-many relationships between buyers and sellers.
• Utilize techniques for facilitating business-to-business relationships, aggregation of buyers, and aggregation of sellers, auctions and reverse auctions.
• Understand the relationships of marketplaces to portals and how to leverage portal functionality in a marketplace.
• Deploy order fulfillment, order tracking, settlement, Internet payment mechanisms, Internet security and trust.

Assess your ability to manage change in an organization. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Conduct a change assessment to measure the impact of change on an organization (e.g. employee interviews, surveys).
• Anticipate the impact of change on employees and identify ways to increase acceptance.
• Create and implement a change communication strategy and plan to prepare for change.
• Prepare employees for upcoming changes and communicate what changes are required, the reasons behind them, and the anticipated time frame for implementation.
• Create a formal transition plan related to upcoming changes as needed.
• Recommend modifications in employee related programs and policies to management in line with proposed changes (e.g. job titles, task reassignment, new compensation plans).
• Create and maintain a change scorecard as required.
• Evaluate acceptance of change and continue to communicate the reasons for the changes until they have been satisfactorily adopted within the organization.

Assess your ability to evaluate business processes. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Gain an understanding of the needs of the organizational unit as they relate to the processes currently in place.
• Determine what processes need to be reviewed based on business plans and objectives.
• Gather pertinent process documentation for review and/or view the process in action.
• Determine if a process needs to be modified or replaced.
• Conduct process mapping.
• Document findings and present recommendations to the appropriate parties.
• Gain approval for any changes, additions, replacements, or deletions.
• Create and monitor a new process/modified process rollout/implementation plan.

Assess your ability to successfully identify and recommend ways to improve a process or processes consistent with operational objectives. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Gather process improvement ideas by researching industry practices and documenting ideas from internal sources.
• Identify new processes and the areas in which they have been implemented, determining the positive and negative lessons learned by the addition or change.
• Evaluate the new or changed processes for adoption by a business unit or organization.
• Develop a set of criteria and evaluate and prioritize process improvement ideas based on the criteria.
• Determine the impact of new processes on an organization, including financial, cultural and operational factors.
• Recommend adoption of a new or changed process when appropriate and aligned with operational and business objectives.
• Gain approval for a recommended process improvement.
• Ensure that the process is defined and applied to the methodology.

Assess your ability to analyze workflows. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Based on functional expertise, determine all of the sub functions of a primary function using decomposition methods.
• Determine how the sub functions are being handled, whether they are outsourced, not needed, or need to be added.
• Use interviewing techniques, research, and industry knowledge to gather process and functional data.
• Determine how each sub function should be accomplished in terms of the process being performed.
• Document the high level processes indicating problem areas and areas for improvement or change.
• Document workflow including dependencies, problem areas, and areas for improvement or change.
• Continually research what is going on in all functional areas for new processes, technologies, methods, and workflows.
• Use tools to document the analysis of workflow and distribute to others as required.

Assess your knowledge and understanding of capacity planning. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe the components and processes of capacity planning for client/server or mainframe environments.
• Identify the acceptable level of network response times for typical applications.
• Outline your organization's policy regarding the balance between performance demands and network response times.

Global communication and information exchange is one of the main benefits of the Internet. E-mail has become an indispensable personal and business tool. Other communication and information exchange uses of the Internet include file transfer, Internet phone, newsgroups and video conferencing.

Assess your ability to communicate using the Internet. As an expert without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Install Internet access and communications software.
• Design and manage the appropriate mix of SLIP/CSLIP (Compressed SLIP)/PPP, ISDN, and IP protocols for your network.
• Manage the Internet applications (e.g. e-mail, Internet phones), the addressing and the domain names.
• Evaluate Internet service providers.

Assess your ability to design a data network. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify common data communication systems and transmission media.
• Choose the best method of transmission based on your organizational needs.
• Compare different types of networks and select one according to your requirements and current hardware specifications.
• Use the ISO/OSI model, including both the lower and higher layers, to design the proper protocol stacks for your network.

Assess your ability to install, maintain and administer network devices. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify the uses of various media connectors and adapters.
• Describe the types of available network interface cards (NICs) and the network architectures they support.
• Configure a modem to enable it to connect to a network.
• Combine several digital signals into one stream using a multiplexer.
• Configure and know when to use the following: repeaters, bridges, routers, brouters, gateways, switches, etc.
• Describe the functions of CSU/DSUs (Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit) in interconnecting networks.
• Prepare reports outlining proposed network configurations.

Assess your knowledge of client/server technologies. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Explain the role of SQL (Structured Query Language) in client/server environments.
• Compare the fat and thin client/server architectures.
• Compare the two-tier and three-tier client/server architectures.
• Explain what transactions are.
• Explain the role of network monitors and protocol analyzers in a client/server environment.
• Describe the basic concepts of object-oriented technology.

Assess your knowledge of ISDN. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe ISDN architecture and standards.
• Explain how to manage data-link connections.
• Discuss ISDN applications and services.
• Define ISDN standards and how they affect network configurations.
• Explain the roles of the Digital bit pipe and the NT1 box.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using different Bandwidth standards.
• Explain how ISDN can support multiple independent channels by time division multiplexing of the bit stream.
• Describe the two principal standards that exist for ISDN: a low bandwidth for home use and a higher bandwidth for business use supporting many channels.

Assess your knowledge of Intranets. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand how the Internet works and how it can be adapted into an Intranet.
• Describe various Internet applications, how they work, how they are configured and how they could be adapted to an Intranet application.
• Explain different types of intranet security and how to solve security issues.
• Describe how to conduct a network needs assessment.
• Describe the different network configurations and architectures that could be implemented in an Intranet.

Assess your knowledge of Local Area Networks. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe enterprise operating system principles and technologies.
• Explain the main components of a LAN and the characteristics of LAN media.
• Explain LAN Topologies and access techniques.
• Outline the key components of wireless LAN technologies.
• Define IEEE, Ethernet and token ring networks.
• Discuss the latest trends surrounding network architecture.
• Specify IEEE standards, and configure networks to these standards.

Assess your knowledge of Network Architecture. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe system design objectives and performance criteria.
• Identify and evaluate hardware and software networking alternatives.
• Understand the use of products that allow for problem diagnosis.
• Recognize procedures for identifying and handling security breeches.
• Discuss characteristics of the existing infrastructure.
• Understand design reviews and how they translate into viable implementations.
• Evaluate the results of the infrastructure implementation.

Assess your knowledge of network configurations. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Select appropriate software for communication within the network.
• Explain the differences between transparent bridges (Ethernet), Source route bridging (Token Ring), and Remote bridges.
• Explain how Ethernet is a 10 million bits per second CSMA/CD base band technology defined by the IEEE 802.3 family of standards.
• Describe how a Token-Ring network uses a token-passing approach to network access.
• Outline the features, advantages, and disadvantages of peer-to-peer networks.
• Discuss the main principles of signal transmission.
• Compare the different types of cable media.
• Describe the principle methods used for creating wireless LANs.

Assess your knowledge of Network Hardware. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe common hardware components such as network adapter cards, EIA-568, and IEEE 802 standards.
• Describe common network products and concepts such as Token Ring, FDDI/CDDI Copper Distributed Data Interface, 10BASE-T, 100BASE-X, 100VGAnyLAN, and switching hubs.
• Explain how all these components should conform to standards and specifications that ensure their efficient operation.

Assess your knowledge of Network Protocols and Standards. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Explain the purpose of the OSI reference model and name its layers.
• Describe the purpose of IEEE 802 series in relation to the OSI model.
• Describe the standard format for the LLC protocol data unit (PDU).
• Compare the use of frames in both connectionless and connection-oriented data transfer.
• Describe the value of state variables and the retransmission list.
• Outline the IEEE 802.3 standard Ethernet networks.
• Discuss the various aspects of the IEEE 802.5 Token Ring.
• Describe the differences between FDDI, ATM, and High Speed LANs.

Assess your knowledge of TCP/IP. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand the configuration of a DHCP for multiple subnets.
• Explain the routing used by TCP/IP, distinguishing between direct and indirect routing, and differentiating between core and non-core gateways.
• Describe how a DNS maps IP addresses.
• Describe the TCP/IP protocol suite and its relation to the OSI/IP model.
• Identify common TCP/IP-related problems.

Assess your knowledge of WANs. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe WAN access, cell-based, packet-based and fast packet technologies.
• Provide an overview of the technologies based on frame relay and cell relay and assess their application in networks.
• Discuss the different protocols that can be used in Wide Area Networks.

Assess your ability to administer a network. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify the interconnection needs of an organization's resources through LAN configuration.
• Organize the security of networks by selecting the appropriate security software that ensures appropriate password encryption, firewalls, and other security mechanisms.
• Determine user accounts and levels of authority.
• Discuss the principles and concepts of performance optimization, with particular attention to automatic and manual optimization.
• Operate SNMP v2 protocol analyzers and RMONs.
• Implement appropriate network security software and firewalls.
• Discuss performance optimization and performance monitoring of both NT Server and the network, using Performance Monitor and the Network Monitor.

Assess your network analysis abilities. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Interview users, managers, and developers to determine current and future requirements for volume and response time.
• Research the specifications of servers, workstations, wiring closets, software, etc., to determine the costs and capabilities of network components.
• Prepare diagrams and documents detailing the current network implementation including media, equipment, servers and software.
• Compare and document current capabilities to future requirements.

Assess your ability to manage data. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Distinguish between referential and entity integrity.
• Discuss how the data structure design is critical to effective decision making.
• Describe Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERD) and their function.
• Explain Data Warehousing and the purpose of queries and metadata.

Assess your knowledge of the design of databases. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Design a database model, using a suitable modeling technique.
• Map an entity relationship diagram to the relational model.
• Carry out all the stages of the normalization process.
• Identify the problem with third normal form and solve it, using Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF).
• Decompose a table into several BCNF tables using the technique of functional determinacy diagrams.
• Illustrate how physical and logical independence at the conceptual level facilitates dynamic database evolution.
• Draw up a suitable model for an enterprise, as a result of strategic planning.

Assess your knowledge of database management. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Classify users into the privilege levels, create users with access to the database and grant and revoke privileges.
• Describe the functions of data dictionaries, views, audit trails, and transaction logs as security mechanisms.
• Distinguish between referential and entity integrity, and state whether particular operations contravene integrity rules.
• Identify and create primary keys, identify foreign keys, and create an index for a table.
• Identify three concurrency problems that may arise in relational systems and suggest locking solutions that avoid deadlocking.
• Distinguish between media and system failures, explain the consequences of transaction failure, and outline the key elements in transaction recovery.
• Explain the storage structures used at the internal level and relate space allocation to database performance.
• Explain the concept of optimization and identify the steps in processing and optimizing a SQL query.

Assess your knowledge of Database Programming. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand database queries and data handling using SQL.
• Categorize SQL into three component languages and indicate the functions of each.
• Use the SELECT command to retrieve data.
• Use the built-in functions available in SQL to refine database queries.
• Retrieve data from two or more tables, using joins and sub queries.
• Describe and use the data manipulation commands INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE.
• Describe how to embed SQL in a C routine using the EXEC SQL command.
• Use data definition commands to create, manipulate, and remove base tables, indexes, and views.

Assess your knowledge of computer architecture. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe: SISD, SIMD and MIMD.
• Describe the difference between a super scalar and super pipeline architecture.
• Know the different causes of pipeline bubbles (stalls) including control, data, and structural hazards.
• Know the differences between a memory mapped I/O and a separate I/O address space.
• Evaluate the trade-offs between a shared memory and shared nothing (cluster) multiprocessor.
• Analyze a system's requirements and determine its proper computer architecture requirements.
• Contrast and evaluate different computer architectures to determine the trade-offs involved in each selection.

Assess your knowledge of data security. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Discuss methods of securing data in extensively shared, distributed systems.
• Discuss the following terms: bounded propagation, data integrity, inference control, and public-key cryptography.
• Discuss the differences between symmetric and asymmetric encryption.
• Explain the knapsack scheme.
• Describe how to manage hard disks in Windows NT with the Disk Administrator utility.
• Describe ways to make a network secure.
• Describe the management of security policies.
• Describe how to implement file and folder security.

Assess your knowledge of N-Tier Technologies and Architecture. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Discuss how enterprise application architectures have evolved and what trends industry analysts are projecting in the future for application architecture.
• Understand how N-Tier related technology is applied to knowledge-based business processes.
• Discus how the N-Tier application structure implies the client/server program model.
• Discuss the advantages of N-Tier applications and explore, in technical detail, the critical requirements for building effective multi-tier applications.
• Evaluate application servers for your environment and development project.

Assess your knowledge of Software Architecture. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe the purpose and components of an operating system.
• Explain databases and database management systems.
• Describe terms such as OSI, GUI, indexes, keys, kernel, pixel and HTML.
• Describe a real time system.
• Define systems and applications software and explain functions.
• Explain the importance of application software.
• Describe the evolution of programming languages.

Assess your knowledge of e-Commerce. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe the e-Commerce framework.
• Identify issues regarding e-Commerce security.
• Understand consumer payment protocols.
• Describe the business-to-business infrastructure.
• Discuss the effects of e-Commerce on banking and finance.
• Describe legal issues surrounding e-Commerce, including copyright, patents, and trademarks.

Assess your ability to use Internet and Intranet software such as web browsers and e-mail applications. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand the nature of the World Wide Web and be able to use and configure a web browser.
• Find, download, and print relevant information from the Web.
• Send and receive e-mail and manage address books and distribution lists.

Assess your ability use Microsoft Access. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Create multi-table queries using related tables.
• Set up table relationships.
• Set up sub forms.
• Design, modify, and enhance a form's appearance.
• Create and run macros.
• Create hyperlinks and HTML documents.
• Share and secure databases.
• Link and import data.

Assess your ability to utilize Excel to create and manipulate data. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Create a new chart.
• Sort data.
• Modify, format, and print charts.
• Sort and filter a list.
• Create and modify outlines.
• Record, run, and edit macros.
• Format rows, columns, and numbers.
• Create and use formulas.

Assess your ability to use Internet Explorer. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Access a web site by manually entering a URL or by doing a search.
• Use and understand the concepts behind streaming radio and video.
• Understand the idea of plug-ins and how they enable viewing of animation, etc.
• Configure security features such as secure socket layers (SSL), digital signatures and certificates.
• Configure advanced features such as print settings and script disabling.
• Send, receive and customize e-mail.
• Identify sources of built-in help.
• Understand the concepts of cookies and the use of the history file.

Assess your ability to utilize the essential features of Outlook. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Communicate effectively using Outlook's powerful e-mail facilities.
• Use the Outlook scheduling feature.
• Customize mailing options.
• Use public and personal folders.
• Set up and configure the Outlook Express newsreader.
• Create and install Outlook forms.
• Work with e-mail, personal folders, and address books.
• Share information, work remotely, organize work, and synchronize schedules with others.

Assess your ability to create presentations using PowerPoint. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Create, edit and rearrange text on PowerPoint slides.
• Import and export data.
• Review and print a presentation.
• Run a slide show.
• Create graphs and organizational charts.
• Add speaker's notes to a presentation.
• Use PowerPoint on a network or the Internet.

Assess your ability to use MS Project for project planning, task scheduling, resource planning and evaluation. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Define project management and its phases.
• Create a project file.
• Create, organize, and modify a project schedule.
• Assign and manage resources.
• Format and print a project.
• Apply filters.
• Factor costs into key decisions regarding project management by adding cost information to a project plan.
• Estimate costs and apply work contours when assigning resources to tasks. .

Assess your ability to use Windows. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Install Windows on a stand-alone system using express and custom setup.
• Utilize advanced features and tools.
• Interface with other software products.
• Understand the various functions and features of each version of the Windows family.
• Determine methods for avoiding and/or dealing with common Windows failures.

Assess your ability to use Word to create and manipulate documents. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Create and edit documents using the different versions of Word.
• Generate mail merges.
• Create and modify forms.
• Create multiple versions of a document.
• Record and run macros.
• Create and modify headers and footers.
• Modify page layout in a document.
• Create and use worksheets and charts.

Assess your ability to use Netscape Communicator. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Access a web site by manually entering a URL or by doing a search.
• Explain the difference between Netscape Communicator and Netscape Navigator.
• Use and understand the concepts behind streaming radio and video.
• Configure and use Netscape e-mail, messaging and chat.
• Configure security features such as secure socket layers (SSL) and digital signatures and certificates.
• Configure advanced features such as print settings and script disabling.
• Identify sources of built-in help.
• Understand the concepts of cookies and the use of the history file.

Assess your ability to utilize the Internet. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe the main Internet applications including: e-mail, news groups, FTP (File Transfer Protocol), and the World Wide Web (WWW).
• Conduct a search of Internet resources using a search engine (e.g. AltaVista, Lycos, etc.)
• Utilize e-mail services to read, delete, send, forward and reply to messages from both the same and different domains.
• Interpret domain names, subscribe to, contribute to, and unsubscribe to a listserv, and understand the uses of listservs.
• Use FTP to transfer files and programs from remote locations to the host machine.

Assess your ability to utilize web browsers and their functions. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Utilize and configure features and tools such as bookmarks, history, toolbars, etc.
• Understand web site navigation and hyperlinks.
• Utilize search functions to locate information on the World Wide Web.
• Understand security issues.

Assess your ability to analyze and design software products. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Distinguish between processes and entities.
• Identify the objective of an analysis.
• Compile a list of the processes in a system, and identify transaction rates.
• Compile a list of entities in a system, group them into categories, and identify entity volumes.

Assess your application analysis abilities. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify and describe the business requirements through written or verbal communications.
• Identify and describe the current application and environment in which it is running.
• Identify what changes need to be made or new processes that need to be developed.
• Produce, at a minimum, a conceptual design that shows the system scope, overall architecture and relationship with other systems.
• Define the test strategy that will be used for the system or project.
• Work with I/T and other departments to analyze business and technical issues including impact on other applications.

Assess your ability to design applications. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform most or all of the following:

• Create design specifications for coding based on business requirements and specifications.
• Describe and use principles of modular design.
• Prepare designs in accordance with architectural principles and guidelines.

Assess your knowledge of life cycle software development. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe each of the phases and define the key tasks that take place in each one.
• Describe how each stage of life cycle development is implemented.
• Identify possible deliverables that may be produced at each stage of the life cycle development.
• Recognize the scheduling issues involved in life cycle development.

Assess you ability to use C to create applications. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Write code appropriate for target platforms.
• Show how to use different kinds of variables.
• Use expressions and statements correctly.
• Write flow-control statements without sequencing errors.
• Write ANSI C programs for text, string, and array processing.
• Write ANSI C programs for processing aggregate data objects individually, in arrays, and in lists.
• Write advanced, efficient ANSI C programs using pointers.
• Implement dynamic memory allocation.

Assess your ability to develop programs using C++. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Explain the use of inheritance in C ++.
• Create applications using the elements of object-oriented programming.
• Dynamically create objects within C++.
• Describe polymorphism and virtual functions.
• Create C++ programs that transfer data to and from a file.
• Use control structures in C++.
• Convert data types.
• Implement friend relationships, containment relationships, and associative relationships.

Assess your ability to develop a conceptual data model. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe the terms entity and relationship as they relate to data modeling.
• Determine and define applicable entities.
• Determine and name entity relationships.
• Define the attributes of entities.
• Using appropriate tools, develop an entity relationship diagram.
• Analyze user information requirements.
• Validate your model.

Assess your ability to analyze data. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Determine what data should be stored, shared, and integrated, and what type and format the data is.
• Review existing reports, programs, databases, file specifications, etc. as data sources.
• Determine type of storage media on which data is located including extraction methods based on storage type.
• Determine how the data is described and classified, and if it needs to be transformed.
• Determine how data from various sources is related and document the relationships.
• Determine what data is calculated rather than stored.
• Determine the integrity of the data and what security individual pieces of data should have.
• Document your findings using appropriate tools and methods.

Assess your ability to design data for use by databases and applications. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Define the data entities so that developers and administrators will know what the data is and how it will be used.
• Determine what attributes the data will have (e.g. type and format).
• Establish any conventions in spelling and naming that will apply.
• Ensure that each data element is independent and has one and only one meaning.
• Create and administer a data dictionary.

Assess your ability to develop queries and reports in a data warehouse environment. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Determine an organization's query and reporting requirements.
• Determine what tools to use to meet customer query and report needs.
• Query and report from relational data sources.
• Provide for impromptu web based ad hoc queries of relational data sources using hyperlink navigation.
• Provide for analysis and reporting of OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) data sources using standard interfaces or web browsers.
• Document your query and report solutions.

Assess your ability to architect a software product. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Determine system design objective and performance criteria.
• Determine system features, functions, and services.
• Establish communications models and protocols.
• Establish security features.
• Develop an information architecture model which partitions the client and server services.
• Conduct management reviews and obtain agreement on the architecture framework.

Assess your ability to use SQL Server to design and develop client/server applications. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Design, develop and deploy a SQL Server database that meets specifications.
• Setup tables, relationships, and primary and foreign keys to support application and reporting specifications.
• Set up the proper indices.
• Prepare and deliver ERDs and other appropriate documentation to the customer.
• Load and test client data.
• Transfer your knowledge of the schema design to others as required.
• Design the migration to the next higher version of the database software.

Assess your ability to develop software requirements for full life-cycle development, packaged implementations, custom enhancements or package modifications. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Conduct interviews and brainstorming sessions for requirements collection.
• Create clear, concise definition documents and requirements specifications.
• Appropriately document results from interviews and brainstorming sessions for easy conversion to design documents.
• Participate in Joint Application Development (JAD) sessions for requirements collection and validation.
• Create clear, concise definition documents and requirements specifications.
• Defining and documenting technical solutions based on achieving specified business goals.
• Use requirements definition database tool as appropriate.
• Reprioritize requirements based on ongoing development and feedback.

Assess your ability to design and develop applications using Oracle. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Explain the differences between SQL and SQLPlus.
• Describe single-row functions and how to obtain data from multiple tables.
• Explain the types of sub-queries, how to produce reports, and to introduce DML statements.
• Explain how to create and maintain database objects.
• Illustrate the use of constraints and show how to control user access.
• Explain the advanced features of PL/SQL.
• Explain the concept of a composite database, and to show how to use cursors and handle exceptions in PL/SQL.

Assess you ability to design GUI's. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe the principles of graphical user interface design.
• Differentiate between effective and ineffective interfaces.
• List and describe standard attributes of a window environment.
• Develop effective navigation through the interface.
• Know in what situations to use color, graphics, audio, and animation.

Assess your ability to design web sites and use the Internet with a focus on security. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Decide on the most appropriate web server deployment strategy for your Intranet or the Internet.
• Estimate communications bandwidth requirements.
• Describe how an Intranet site may be integrated with, but protected from, the Internet.
• Describe the administration tasks associated with maintaining a web server.
• Explain how operating system security contributes to web site security.

Assess your ability to create applications using the Java programming language. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Program applets and applications using Java.
• Describe the Java Database Connectivity architecture, how database connections are controlled using drivers, and how databases are queried.
• Describe Java's two solutions for allowing objects to communicate over a network - RMI (Remote Method Invocation) and IDL (Interface Definition Language).
• Create an application using Java that can interact with images, animations, and sounds.
• Use objects, classes, methods, and messages to explain object-oriented principles and methodologies.
• Describe the structure of a Java class, outline the properties of an object and its interfaces, and explain exception handling.
• Describe Java packages, how these packages are used in applications, how threads are synchronized in Java, and how Java programs are internationalized.

Assess your performance analysis abilities. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Perform crude performance estimates.
• Identify potential causes of bottlenecks in a multitasking, multiresource environment.
• Specify and write performance test cases (benchmarks).
• Use available tools, both hardware and software, to gather performance statistics.
• Apply performance improving techniques (e.g. caching, blocking, read ahead, locality of reference).
• Identify the common case and optimize for it.
• Use statistical analysis in regards to the gathered measurements.

Assess your knowledge of software processes and principles in world-class software organizations. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Explain the principles of software engineering.
• Understand the role of the software process.
• Define software development life cycles.
• Explain the stages of common life cycles.
• Understand the concept of software reuse.
• Explain the concept of software re-engineering.

Assess your ability to program software systems or applications. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Define variables in various scopes for a programming language such as C, C++, or Visual Basic.
• Design Internet and Intranet applications using web-based languages such as Java and JavaScript.
• Describe the design features of object-orientated languages.
• Understand Distributed Component Principles and Technologies.
• Understand and use threading and memory allocation, if applicable.
• Utilize memory sharing techniques.
• Describe the difference between 3rd and 4th generation programming languages.
• Debug compiled code using monitors of variables and program steps.

Assess your ability to design and develop applications using relational databases. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Contrast relational databases with those based on the hierarchical and network models, pointing out the advantages of the relational model.
• Evaluate a DBMS in terms of its relationality (as defined by Codd's rules) and its functionality.
• Use the criteria of uniqueness and minimality to identify suitable candidate keys in relational tables and use these to select a primary key.
• Identify traditional set and special relational operators and demonstrate their usefulness.
• Describe the three-layer architecture of the relational model and explain how this structure ensures layer independence.
• State the referential and entity integrity rules, identify when they are breached, and relate integrity rules to the requirements of the real world.

Assess your ability to manage software projects. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Explain the processes involved in the initiation phase of a project and the development of an overall project plan.
• Understand processes involved in developing and managing the scope of a project.
• Describe in detail the process of resource allocation and how cost, work, and time estimates are developed.
• Understand the concepts of scheduling with particular reference to CPM/PERT and other quantitative methodologies.
• Examine the procedures whereby goods and services may have to be procured from outside sources for the project.
• Describe the processes of identifying, quantifying, and responding to risks.
• Describe in detail the processes of project quality planning, quality control, and quality assurance.
• Identify, document, and assign roles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships.

Assess you ability to support software development. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Use configuration management tools for specific projects.
• Assure separation of development, test, and production environments.
• Create a software configuration management plan, either manually or with software.
• Design and implement an archive process.
• Understand the issues involved with, and be able to implement, source code control.
• Evaluate and select a problem tracking system.
• Maintain levels of project test data in databases.

Assess your ability to test a software product through the appropriate stages of its development. Consider your ability to lead a test team through a successful product test. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Create test plans and test cases for each phase of the testing cycle.
• Use techniques such as white box, black box, boundary, load, and stress testing.
• Unit test a module or low level object.
• Test a component or similar grouping of objects.
• Perform systems tests, regression tests, integration tests, and acceptance tests.

Assess your ability to apply the Visual Basic language in the development of applications. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Use advanced features such as building libraries and application frameworks.
• Design and develop software using Visual Basic.
• Code, test, debug, and document programs written in Visual Basic.
• Work with existing VB classes and methods.
• Create and modify classes.
• Use ADO to implement database access.
• Incorporate Microsoft or third-party Active-X components.

Assess your ability to develop XML languages and documents. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Write a DTD (Document Type Definition) defining an XML language.
• Explain how XML relates to HTML and SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language).
• Create "well-formed" and "valid" XML documents.
• Use XML related technologies such as CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and XSL (Extensible Stylesheet Language).
• Use programs to read or work with XML documents (e.g. parsers, converters, databases, XML editors, etc.).

Assess your ability to install, configure, maintain and tune Novell Netware. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand the main features of service and support.
• Provide maintenance and administration to storage devices, network printers, network cabling.
• Maintain and secure the NDS.
• Install the various components of the Novell NetWare system.
• Understand the differences between the various Novell Netware versions.
• Understand security considerations within the Novell Netware Operating System.

Assess your ability to monitor, tune and administer an Oracle database. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Explain the steps needed to set up a new Oracle database.
• Discuss the relationship between an entity relationship diagram and the associated database objects.
• Construct the data dictionary.
• Describe the database structure and storage parameters.
• Assign end-users and privileges to the system.
• Explain database segments and constraints.
• Perform a database audit.
• Perform an incomplete recovery operation in the appropriate situation.
• Perform logical backups of the database when using the Export and Import utilities.
• Use the necessary tools to identify, correct, and protect against system loss.

Assess your ability to administer SQL Server databases. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Install the database on a variety of hardware platforms.
• Tune the database for optimal performance.
• Setup indices where required.
• Maximize throughput.
• Perform user administration and perform basic backup tasks.
• Prepare complete database documentation including data dictionary, data flow diagrams, entity-relationship diagrams, and functional specifications.
• Document the installation in detail and train customers to take over administration tasks.

Assess your ability to install, configure, and maintain UNIX. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Work with Unix files and file systems.
• Use UNIX Editors to manipulate files.
• Administer the user environment
• Use process and data utilities.
• Provide administration to various Unix based operating systems such as HP-UX and Sun Solaris.
• Customize your UNIX environment.
• Perform advanced editing tasks using vi.
• Manage disk space by compressing and archiving files.

Assess your ability to install, configure, and maintain Windows NT Server. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Install and initialize NT on a variety of hardware platforms.
• Upgrade current network operating systems with the newest version.
• Perform system administration tasks including user administration, password synchronization, sharing and permissions.
• Integrate the server into an existing network (e.g. NT, NetWare, Unix, etc.).
• Monitor network traffic, tasks and resource usage.
• Tune the server for maximum performance and gather system resource information (e.g. device drivers, IRQs, DMAs, IO addresses etc.).
• Develop and implement a backup strategy for multiple NT servers.
• Document the complete installation including what was done during administration and tuning.

Assess your ability to report on help desk issues. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Use change logs, issue logs, and status reports to share problem status information.
• Determine the content of status reports.
• Establish responsibility for the production of status reports.
• Determine the frequency or schedule of reports.
• Use the reports to evaluate help desk effectiveness.

Assess your ability to implement an Apache HTTP Web Server. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Determine how to use the server to meet e-Commerce business requirements.
• Configure a server based on intended use - Intranet or Internet, according to specifications.
• Recommend the proper equipment configuration.
• Set up and install the server with the correct operating system software.
• Thoroughly test the server, troubleshoot and resolve all issues to a satisfactory conclusion.
• Determine that the server is performing properly and tune it if it is not.
• Perform all administration functions correctly.
• Perform all necessary documentation and knowledge transfer tasks.

Assess your ability to analyze accounts payable and to account for it using general accounting principles, procedures, and practices. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand current accounting practices.
• Ensure all expenses are authorized and allowable.
• Receive and enter purchase orders (POs).
• Match purchase order to invoice and verify that all goods and/or services were received as ordered.
• Process vendor invoices on a timely basis ensuring proper approvals and adherence to policy.
• Post invoices to general ledger.
• Generate all disbursement batches (checks and transfers) on a scheduled basis.
• Perform the reconciliation process and provide analyses as required.

Assess your ability to calculate high accuracy budgets and manage effectively to budgets. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Discuss the purposes and benefits of budgeting.
• Discuss the costs of budgeting.
• Explain the planning and control functions of revenue budgeting.
• Prepare and discuss various types of budgets.
• Outline the uses and importance of capital budgeting.
• Identify the appropriate budgeting strategies for a series of business situations.

Assess your ability to analyze financial information and apply it to business decision making. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform most or all of the following:

• Describe the purpose and key concepts of financial analysis.
• List the external sources of information that support financial decision making, and explain their importance to this process.
• Explain how financial analysis can be used to evaluate corporate and managerial performance.
• List the micro level (operational) decisions which are particularly contingent on financial analysis.
• Explain the importance of comparing business results to budget plans.
• Outline alternative ways of analyzing performance.
• Perform horizontal and vertical analysis on financial statements.

Assess your knowledge of financial processes. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Keep up-to-date with the latest trends in your business area through reading of periodicals, customer interactions, Internet research, and other methods.
• Determine common financial requirements and describe how they are normally delivered.
• Describe the basic accounting functions and principles (AR, GL, AP, etc.).

Assess your accounting ability. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand and apply GAAP.
• Perform contemporary accounting practices.
• Identify the external stakeholders in a business and the kinds of accounting information they require.
• Identify internal stakeholders and their accounting needs.
• Describe the financial accounting subsystem.
• Describe the management accounting subsystem.
• Discuss the issues involved in international accounting.
• Discuss ethical issues with regards to accounting.

Assess your ability to manage the accounts receivable function for an organizational unit. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Ensure clients adhere to agreed upon payment terms, and billing statements are sent out to clients as needed.
• Ensure that billing and payment issues are tracked and resolved.
• Review accounts receivable for potential payment problems (e.g. routinely review A/R aging reports to detect seriously delinquent accounts).
• Determine and implement appropriate steps to address seriously delinquent accounts.
• Monitor results of vendors assisting with the collection process, and take steps to correct unsatisfactory performance.
• Assist with credit/rebilling efforts as necessary (e.g. obtain needed documentation, seek required approval, adjust client charges, follow up to ensure timely processing).

Assess your ability to account for payroll liabilities taking into account the items discussed above and the use of accounting principles, procedures, and practices. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Maintain current knowledge of changes in deduction regulations, deadlines, and tax requirements.
• Keep accurate and up to date information on personnel for payroll purposes.
• Issue manual or electronic payroll checks correctly calculating all income sources and appropriate deductions.
• Understand the details of employee medical insurance plan.
• Issue Record of Employment (ROE) as required.

Assess your ability to assess how current documentation is meeting customer requirements. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Conduct interviews with business analysts, users, and developers to learn how the documentation supports the subject matter, including the appropriateness of the layout and organization.
• Review how users are using the documentation to support their activities.
• Document your findings.
• Prepare and distribute your findings to appropriate individuals for validation.
• Recommend changes and enhancements, if appropriate, based on your findings.
• Gain customer approval to implement the changes.

Assess your graphic design abilities. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Concisely and thoroughly document the client's media assets.
• Communicate graphic concepts to a client through rough sketches, proofs, blueprints or document maps.
• Develop identity logos according to rigid specifications for electronic deployment and re-adjust the graphic system to work with a new or existing corporate identity.
• Develop graphics in an appropriate format for use digitally, such as over the Internet.
• Design graphic interfaces for electronic applications including CD-ROM, web sites and kiosks that satisfy the client and meet specifications.
• Use expert typography skills to layout text provided by copywriters that satisfy user expectations and fulfill specifications.
• Integrate existing marketing campaigns as required.

Assess your ability to efficiently manage materials. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Develop a deployment strategy and framework (e.g. based on the types and variety of documents, develop an organizing strategy to facilitate efficient retrieval).
• Develop a revision strategy to support business goals or international standards.
• Develop a method to track where paper documents are kept and establish and enforce a check-in and checkout procedure for both electronic and paper documents.
• Gather requirements for a documentation management tool (e.g. off-the-shelf or custom developed).
• Ensure that documents that are available electronically are properly filed in the repository database.
• Secure electronic files to ensure they cannot be removed or deleted without authorization.
• Ensure that all critical documents are backed up either electronically or with a second paper copy.
• Demonstrate ability to develop materials management strategy to support ISO 9000, QS9000 and other international standard initiatives and enhance compliance.

Access your ability to design technical documents. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Analyze and develop procedures for creating technical documentation.
• Conduct interviews with business analysts, users, and developers to determine what content should be included in the document.
• Incorporate design techniques as appropriate (e.g. fonts, color scheme, white space, balance).
• Create and maintain style sheets.
• Prepare and distribute design drafts for review.
• Validate appropriateness of requested changes and incorporate them as needed into designs.
• Gain client design approval.

Assess your ability to administer benefit plans. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Process plan enrollments, coverage changes, and terminations in an accurate and timely manner.
• Provide adequate answers to employee/vendor questions regarding the plan(s) (e.g. coverage questions, billing concerns).
• Troubleshoot benefit plan concerns/problems, referring major issues to management as appropriate (e.g. legal concerns).
• Review invoices for accuracy and submit to management ensuring the timely payment of bills (e.g. run system reports to review accuracy).
• Assist with the communication of benefit plan information.
• Gather internal and external information regarding benefit plans and provide to senior management (e.g. informal feedback regarding program effectiveness from employees and management, recommendations regarding new benefits and/or changes to existing benefits).

Assess your ability to direct and coordinate branch operations. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Explain any policies and procedures to appropriate branch personnel as required.
• Make sure that branch personnel can find, explain and carry out policies and procedures in all areas (i.e. disaster recovery, purchasing, housekeeping, telecommunications, security, mail, space, travel, meetings, national vendors, etc.)
• Introduce changes that have a positive effect on operations.
• Make inspections to assure that branches are administered consistently and in accordance with quality standards.
• Document any deviations from standards and take appropriate action to bring branch operations into compliance.
• Notify branch and unit management of compliance to standards.
• Benchmark operations against other companies (i.e. survey participation, reviews, round tables, etc.) to find new, beneficial processes and programs.
• Perform any knowledge transfer tasks as required.

Assess your business development abilities. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Assist and/or lead specific branch business development activities.
• Develop strategies and competitive differentiation for specific solution offerings.
• Determine which companies to target, gather critical information regarding client's critical success factors and current/future challenges and business needs.
• Build relationships with targeted companies.
• Understand and participate in all stages of the pursuit management process.

Assess your ability to manage business relationships. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Cultivate new client opportunities and determine if a relationship should be established.
• Expand networks through participation in professional and industry associations, community activities, and indirect sales or marketing activities.
• Profile potential clients to build an understanding of their business needs.
• Use your knowledge of the client's business objectives and current situation to identify new opportunities and to meet current needs.
• Maintain an open channel of communication to ensure continued satisfaction (e.g. keep abreast of how projects are going, find out if needs are being met, resolve issues/concerns).
• Identify and meet with client's key decision makers to build relationships.
• Serve as the client's primary contact.
• Advise the client on business issues helping them look beyond the present and positioning them for the future.

Assess your ability to direct career development. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Determine if an employee is suitable for a career change.
• Analyze an employee's motivation for change.
• Determine sources of education/training available.
• Determine organization's ability to accommodate an employee's request for change.
• Understand and use competence/skill management software.

Assess your ability to build and maintain productive client relationships. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Develop relationships with client personnel where each has a high level of trust and personal commitment.
• Relate to, and build relationships with executive levels within client organizations.
• Follow through on all commitments.
• Identify potentially beneficial relationships, build and maintain these contacts.
• Build relationships that are characterized by a mutual understanding of underlying concerns and a willingness to address issues openly and without fear of retribution.
• Effectively use communication skills to build and maintain relationships, including tactfully addressing challenging issues or problems.
• Develop understanding of business environments and appreciate the impact on a client's organization.

Assess your ability to deploy HR processes. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Manage all recruiting and hiring procedures.
• Oversee employee benefit and compensation plan development and administration.
• Undertake employee morale analysis, and implement strategies when necessary.
• Administer employee development programs.
• Administer retirement programs.

Assess your ability to manage a disaster recovery process. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe a Business Impact Assessment.
• Initiate steps in developing and implementing a disaster recovery plan.
• Document and distribute plan to all involved parties.
• Assess the disaster recovery plan and how the enterprise or specific business unit will respond to a "worst case scenario" such as a system failure.

Assess your ability to conduct employee performance management within an organization. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Ensure that the skills, roles, and responsibilities for employees are accurately defined and that job expectations are clearly understood by employees.
• Guide employees in their career development.
• Gather performance feedback from appropriate sources.
• Coach and counsel employees to encourage effective performance.
• Conduct accurate and timely performance appraisals.
• Perform employee related administrative tasks.
• Motivate employees through the use of recognition and rewards and positive employee relations.

Assess your ability to manage financial processes effectively. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Prepare financial statements, estimates, summaries and management reports.
• Perform financial analysis and management reports.
• Evaluate financial reporting systems, accounting procedures and investment activities to make recommendations for changes to procedures, operating systems, budgets, and other financial control functions.
• Identify suitable short-term and long-term financing methods.

Assess your ability to produce a financial modeling scenario. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify and implement appropriate tools, techniques, and formulas to initiate a financial modeling plan.
• Identify and obtain relevant information to best represent the financial modeling scenario.
• Use modeling to identify impact on final results (e.g. different financial results, varying stock prices, changing interest rates).
• Document your results and communicate them to the appropriate internal and/or external parties.

Assess your ability to justify and implement an Internet business strategy. As an expert without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Demonstrate the benefits of conducting business on the Internet.
• Describe how to develop an Internet business plan.
• Manage the development of a web site.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of an Internet business strategy.

Assess your ability to identify and implement industry best practices and foster a high-performance culture. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Determine what practices and approaches would benefit from improvement based on knowledge of different practices and approaches being used in other organizations.
• Research the practices and approaches used by other companies through professional contacts and available information.
• Select for adoption desirable approaches that will yield the greatest performance improvements.
• Communicate the need for a process change using a variety of techniques throughout the adoption period.
• Determine the best timing and methods of adoption that will yield the greatest performance improvements.
• Ensure that best practices and approaches are adopted in a methodical and timely manner.
• Evaluate the results of new approaches and practices against expected improvements and modify the process if needed.
• Communicate success/failure/direction/plans to all involved.

Assess your ability to manage Information Systems. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Organize and classify different types of information.
• Identify the types of business information systems.
• Recognize the components of information systems architecture.
• Discuss both traditional and flat organizational structures.
• Describe how companies use reengineering and continuous improvement to move forward.
• Define information resource management.

Assess you ability to develop and deploy competence management with consideration to the culture of the adopting organization, the size and complexity of the organization, organizational and individual behavioral psychology, and business goals. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify business goals and build processes and data targeted to achieving these goals.
• Define and deploy a communications plan to ensure 'buy-in' by all levels of management and employees.
• Build a deployment plan and execute it.
• Create, modify and appropriately categorize skill definitions and competence profiles through Subject Matter Expert interviews, facilitated brainstorming techniques, research and validation.
• Assign and validate skills competencies.
• Interpret and analyze competence data to fully leverage organizational capability.
• Utilize competence management applications and tools.

Assess your ability to manage organizational behavior. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Outline the challenges facing organizational behavior management.
• Use influence tactics effectively.
• Apply major theories of human behavior in interpersonal management, personal relationships and management situations.
• Understand work motivation and create a motivating work environment.
• Create high performing work groups and teams.
• Manage power, politics, conflict, and negotiation.

Assess your ability to manage systems development as an ongoing process. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Assemble and coordinate key participants in the systems development process.
• Describe a systems development life cycle.
• Oversee the planning and initiation stages of systems development.
• Explain what successful systems development entails.
• Understand and implement all necessary steps and factors to maximize systems development success.

Assess your ability to maintain employee relations. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Maintain open communication with employees (e.g. "open door policy").
• Solicit employee feedback to determine their needs, concerns, questions, etc.
• Identify and implement solutions as necessary.
• Regularly communicate status of upcoming changes to employees (e.g. through routine staff meetings).
• Formally and informally recognize employees for their efforts.
• When necessary, discipline an employee in the appropriate manner.

Assess your ability to manage organizational operations. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand the role and duties of operations management in organizations.
• Define quality and implement total quality management. (TQM)
• Coordinate operations strategy and corporate strategy.
• Utilize current, effective project management techniques.
• Understand the impact of limited resources, and initiate control measures.

Assess your ability to manage personnel. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Coordinate and supervise recruiting for your area.
• Establish and implement employee training and personal development procedures.
• Help employees to manage their careers.
• Provide supervisory direction when necessary.
• Understand and follow corporate personnel policies.
• Maintain good relations with employees.
• Provide personnel resources and information.

Assess your ability to prepare business reports. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Create charts that graphically display business information (e.g. organizational charts, financial reports).
• Prepare financial spreadsheets and reports that accurately depict how the business unit is doing compared to financial targets, goals, and strategic objectives.
• Prepare ad hoc and routine business reports that highlight areas of strength and weakness.
• Create summary reports and charts that show trends and conditions not shown using routine methods.

Assess your ability to manage operational processes. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand processes that contribute to operational success.
• Explain the different types of process decisions that need to be made, and the impact these may have on operations.
• Discuss the link between process decisions and technology.
• Create flow diagrams and process charts.
• Monitor key processes against projected timelines.

Assess your ability to provide training and development to current and new employees. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Analyze current employee skills and determine areas of strength and weakness.
• Utilize available tools and technology to best address training needs.
• Implement and manage training programs and professional development.
• Evaluate training to assess if goals are being attained.

Assess your ability at Quality Management. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Manage organizational structure, procedures, processes and resources to keep in line with quality control standards.
• Explain Continuous Improvement.
• Apply Statistical Process Control.
• Analyze quality issues using the appropriate problem-solving tools and recommend corrective action.
• Ensure service delivery quality assurance.

Assess your ability to conduct employee recruitment. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Address short-term, on-going, and long-range staffing issues considering such factors as cost per hire, time to fill, and trends in hiring activities.
• Effectively communicate staffing needs to recruiting staff (e.g. submit staffing requirements form).
• Source candidates or communicate potential sources to recruiting staff.
• Screen resumes of candidates.
• Conduct interviews in a professional and fair manner that is consistent with company guidelines.
• Provide feedback from interviews to appropriate parties in a timely manner (e.g. recruiter, senior management).
• Recommend candidates for hire.
• Assist with final offer (e.g. title, level, salary, start date).

Assess your ability to manage business unit space. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Determine business unit growth patterns and relate the patterns to space requirements.
• Create, document and distribute standards that apply to space usage (e.g. furnishings and equipment, telecommunications).
• Review blueprints and other documents that apply to space to ensure appropriateness and adherence to usage standards.
• Explain how the space selected could be developed for future use.
• Create and distribute documents to appropriate parties.
• Understand and adhere to budget limitations.

Assess your ability to create strategic plans. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Differentiate between strategic vision and business mission.
• Recognize the importance of vision and mission statements.
• Develop a unique strategic vision.
• Set strategic and financial objectives.
• Understand external factors that may shape an organization's strategy.
• Discuss the role of ethics in strategy development.

Assess your ability to perform Systems Implementation. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Outline and coordinate the process for system implementation.
• Describe data and site preparation, and designate skilled personnel to implementation process.
• Understand the installation phase of systems implementation.
• Employ testing methods and phases as necessary.
• Manage the startup process, adhering to timelines and budget factors.

Assess your ability to identify and confirm training needs for a specific area within the organization (e.g. department, practice, business unit) by initiating a needs assessment. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Strategize and anticipate the training needs based on the current and future market.
• Conduct a preliminary screen of the identified problem to determine the cause and identify whether something other than training will resolve it (e.g. restructuring, change management, hiring new employees who have the required skill proficiency levels).
• Study the general organizational context within which the identified problem is happening (e.g. mission and structure, what is important to the organizational unit, how the problem affects the organization unit).
• Conduct a formal survey of training options that will meet the skill gaps.
• Perform in-depth analysis of skill requirements and current employee proficiencies on required skills.
  

Assess your ability to evaluate training opportunities and to define deliverable requirements to support project objectives. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Interview personnel to determine audience characteristics, existing materials and their purpose, usage information, subject matter, standards, and accuracy.
• Determine the infrastructure requirements and tools to support training and online learning and gather information regarding the training environment.
• Review existing materials and assess consistency, level of detail, ease of use, accuracy, format, language, organization, method of creation, archival approach, and maintenance.
• Define approaches for meeting goals and develop recommendations based on current state and future vision.
• Prepare and present plan for creating deliverables.

Assess your ability to use Management Information Systems. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify different types of business information systems.
• Identify the components of the information systems architecture.
• Explain how a computer system is subordinate to the main information system (IS) of an organization.
• Distinguish between systems software and applications software.
• Describe an operating system.
• Explain why a firm must manage its data to be efficient.
• Explain the concept of data hierarchy.
• Recognize the traditional approach to data management.

Assess your ability to manage and develop existing and new accounts. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe in detail a client's business goals and objectives, their critical success factors, and their short and long-term challenges.
• Assist the client to position themselves for the future, by effectively promoting their service or product (e.g. attending shows, demonstrations, or arranging educational opportunities).
• Identify viable account development opportunities within a current client's organization, or to additional branches.
• Determine the main competitors within the industry, track their progress, and minimize their impact.
• Oversee projects to ensure all problems are identified and resolved to client satisfaction and in a timely fashion.
• Monitor accounts to ensure revenues are in-line with forecasts.
• Serve as the primary contact to the client including communicating resource needs, rate review and negotiation, project timeline and staffing issues.
• Create and update account management procedures.

Assess your ability to prepare bids. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Determine tax, insurance and liability issues in the bidding process.
• Maintain relationships with legal, tax and risk management experts.
• Utilize the appropriate bid process and contracting strategy based on the local business culture.
• Manage staff to maximize accuracy and efficiency.
• Maintain a code of ethics that manifests itself in the procedures used.
• Analyze information obtained at bid time to establish benchmarks for future use.

Assess your ability to close a sale. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Articulate features, benefits, and advantages of proposed products/services and relate them to the client's requirements.
• Describe the closing steps, including identifying the client personnel involved in closing the sale and the roles that they play.
• Identify any apprehension towards the sale and attempt to create and execute a strategy to neutralize or overcome objections.
• Ensure that proposed products or services meet client needs.
• Ensure all agreements are appropriately written up and signed.

Assess your ability at cold calling. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand the most successful methods for developing new client leads.
• Develop and rehearse an effective "script".
• Develop a rapport with the client.
• Maintain an accurate client list.
• Finalize or "close" the transaction.
• Follow established procedures.
• Adhere to government regulations relating to cold calling.

Assess your ability to develop product strategies. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify the value of effective branding.
• Incorporate an effective product line and product mix.
• Understand the product life cycle and how it affects decision-making.
• Explain why new product development is essential.
• Understand the adoption process for new products and use this knowledge to effectively introduce products.

Assess your ability at general marketing processes. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe the marketing mix.
• Define a product life cycle.
• Identify the components of a marketing strategy.
• Define target market and marketing mix.
• Define demographics and discuss its influence on marketing.
• Describe the economic and competitive environment.
• Describe the stages of the business cycle and explain their impact on marketing.

Assess your ability to handle objections. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Know when and why objections commonly occur.
• Respond in an effective and timely fashion to objections.
• Implement techniques to identify and respond to objections.
• Ask clients for clarification on objections they have raised that are unclear.
• Proactively plan for possible future objections and have appropriate responses prepared and rehearsed.
• Employ diplomacy in communications.

Assess your ability to identify customer needs. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe rational and emotional motives for buying and how they relate to product attributes.
• Describe the differences in customer needs development between small and large sales.
• Explain the value of implied and explicit needs as buying signals in small and large sales.
• Utilize techniques that salespeople employ to probe customers effectively for information.

Assess your ability at Market Analysis. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Initiate and document a plan to research specific market characteristics.
• Employ current data collection and analysis methods, such as conjoint analysis, multidimensional preference analysis, etc.
• Utilize findings to implement, modify or reject marketing strategies.

Assess your ability to use and understand the environments and demographics of global marketing. Consider your ability to modify marketing ideas and practices for foreign markets and individual environmental differences. As an expert, without assistance you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand the term, global marketing.
• Discuss competition, the economy and technology in relation to global marketing.
• Explain how politics, culture, social issues and legal issues affect marketing.
• Spearhead redirecting the organization's marketing strategy so it has a global perspective.
• Define market focusing, and put it into a global context.
• Explain how demographics affect marketing.

Assess your ability to understand marketing research and the benefits in the marketing process. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Discuss and apply the marketing research process.
• Understand and apply current marketing research methods and technology.
• Review and analyze gathered data to assist in a marketing research plan.
• Explain how information is used to develop marketing plans.
• Understand how information is applied to customer-driven marketing.
• Understand how information is used to identify emerging markets and trends.

Assess your ability to market products and services for an organizational unit. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Demonstrate knowledge of all products and services offered by the organizational unit and that unit's role within the branch or company.
• Effectively market both tangible and intangible products and services.
• Explain the mission, goals, objectives, and final deliverables associated with the organizational unit (e.g. current projects).
• Interpret and use demographic statistics and research.
• Identify opportunities to provide new products and services to customers.
• Determine appropriate medium to communicate activities within organizational unit to internal and external customers in a timely manner.
• Provide input on the effectiveness of current and potential marketing media.
• Serve as a champion at all times, taking advantage of opportunities to promote the unit's products and services.

Assess your ability to sell products or services, person-to-person. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Recognize the customers' needs and problems.
• Clearly communicate the features and advantages of your product or service.
• Describe the elements of trust in relation to personal selling.
• Define situation, challenge and implication questions.
• Understand and employ techniques for presenting a product.
• Identify the common types of customer objections.
• Understand the importance of a follow-up.

Assess your ability to conduct a product analysis. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand how product analysis can improve marketing position.
• Analyze information related to a product or product line while considering items such as profitability, return rate, and associated product trends.
• Identify comparable products and the marketing position of competitors.
• Identify any discrepancy between reliability predictions from conventional life testing and actual field failure data.

Assess your ability at developing and maintaining good public relations. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Prepare press releases, conduct research, issue statements and manage others in this discipline.
• Establish and maintain an organization's image with the public.
• Demonstrate proficiency in media relations, community relations, shareholder relations, and issue management.
• Deal with crisis PR scenarios in a professional fashion, isolating the problem and performing damage control.

Assess your ability to market technical products and services. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Map products to the specific industry segments.
• Develop and implement an overall strategic industry marketing plan, highlighting specific industries.
• Create industry specific penetration statistics (both internal and external).
• Ensure that focused competitive analysis is done within the industry.
• Identify new effective marketing avenues for your products/services (e.g. Internet, print advertising, direct mail, radio, TV or PR including direct sales and indirect sales).
• Analyze competitor's marketing scheme for products they have that are similar to yours.
• Continuously measure and adjust marketing strategies.

Assess your ability to generate sales through telemarketing. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify target markets and acquire contact information for prospective clients.
• Meet daily and weekly appointment scheduling goals to generate your own sales, or to generate meaningful sales leads for outside sales representatives.
• Provide telephone follow up to interested clients.
• Utilize effective techniques to close a sale.
• Promote new or additional products to existing customers.
• Expand sales territory by contacting local, national and even global prospects.
• Maintain relationships with current clients.

Assess your ability to perform territory planning and management. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Determine sales objectives for each account and assigned territory (e.g. pursuing new business clients, pursuing new business with existing clients, deciding which accounts within a territory to focus time/efforts on).
• Conduct ongoing planning for each account (e.g. conduct formal strategizing for a specified period of time as necessary, decide what steps need to be taken and in what order, meet with management to discuss tactical plans and strategies).
• Utilize appropriate company tools and systems for account and territory planning (e.g. ensure assigned accounts are marked as such in company databases, ensure information regarding clients in assigned territory is accurate in databases, make decisions when to add/delete assigned clients within database).

Assess your knowledge of CAD. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Create drawings according to common drafting conventions with a common CAD program such as AutoCAD, MiniCAD, or Pro/ENGINEER.
• Understand how to use a CAD program to perform fundamental drafting skills, such as create a spline, Bezier curve, or radial array of objects.
• Describe the matrix computations performed to transform objects in coordinate space.
• Describe solid-modeling techniques.
• Perform manipulations on design objects such as changing projections and managing drawing layers and line properties.
• Explain solid modeling, top-down design, bottom-up design, and the use of CAD to perform spatial-interference tests.
• Create and use CAD libraries.

Assess your manufacturing engineering abilities. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Understand commonly used manufacturing processes and equipment, their functions, limitations and costs.
• Define the following terms: knowledge-based systems, reverse engineering, and mechatronics.
• Explain the concepts of modular manufacturing design, production parameter forecasting, concurrent engineering, linear programming.
• Evaluate optimal resource allocation to a manufacturing process in a given field.
• Describe methods of integrating environmental considerations into process design.
• Explain the applicability of such technology as CAD / CAM , high-temperature metal deformation modeling, laser machining and various chemical and mechanical surface treatments.

Assess your ability to arrange meetings. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• As required, monitor meeting expenses against budget (e.g. track expenses, obtain additional funds for meeting as necessary).
• Coordinate the meeting time and location and prepare the agenda as necessary.
• Maintain communication with meeting attendees as necessary (e.g. change in date/location), using the most effective means of communication available.
• Order and follow up on the delivery of food and beverages as needed for meals and breaks.
• Ensure that technical needs are taken care of prior to meeting start (e.g. audio-video equipment).
• Assist with transportation needs of attendees as needed (e.g. provide directions, bus schedules, call cabs).
• Assist meeting leader if necessary.
• Quickly and accurately record the key notes discussed at a meeting and process, distribute, and archive these notes if required.

Assess your ability to think analytically. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify flawed and sound arguments.
• Analyze, breakdown, and/or organize multidimensional systems, problems, or processes into component parts.
• Use several analytical techniques to identify various solutions and weigh the value of each.
• Understand the difference between quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Apply analytical thinking to project objectives, planning and problem solving.
• Provide precise and concise written and oral arguments.

Assess your ability to demonstrate client focus. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Use a long-term perspective when addressing client's problems, trading off immediate costs against the advantage of a long-term relationship.
• Understand the client's needs, problems, and opportunities.
• Become intimately involved in the client's decision-making process.
• Develop new and creative approaches to meet or exceed client's expectations.
• Add value by taking whatever steps are necessary to meet delivery expectations.
• Achieve the position of trusted advisor through your work for the client.

Assess your ability to demonstrate flexibility in the workplace. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Make organizational changes to meet the needs of the specific situation.
• Demonstrate a willingness to receive feedback and criticism from others, adapting your own strategy or tactics as necessary.
• Willingly change the overall plan, direction, goal, or project to fit each situation without significant delay.
• Work effectively with people at all levels within an organization.

Assess your ability to have an impact on, and influence, others. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Effectively manage the expectations of others.
• Use direct and indirect chains of influence to get results.
• Overcome communication hurdles.
• Influence the behavior of others through your own actions.
• Perform a dramatic or unusual action in order to have a specific impact on others.
• Adapt a presentation or discussion to appeal to the interest and knowledge level of others.
• Anticipate the effect an action or other detail will have on others' impressions.
• Adapt your approach if the current plan is not having the desired effect.

Assess your ability to act with initiative. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Anticipate and prepare for a specific opportunity or problem that is not obvious to others.
• Take action to create an opportunity or avoid a future crisis by looking ahead.
• Work independently with minimal supervision.
• Manage more tasks than are required or expected in the job.
• Proactively seek opportunities to improve processes at work.
• Take action to avoid problems.

Assess your ability to act and respond innovatively in a professional environment. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Seek out fresh ideas from a wide variety of sources.
• Entertain original solutions to problems.
• Demonstrate resourcefulness.
• Understand the importance of clearly defining goals.
• Identify and direct the steps involved in the brainstorming process.
• Easily make connections among previously unrelated notions.
• Generate new ideas.
• Take fresh perspectives and risks in problem solving and idea development.

Determine the strength of your interpersonal skills. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Establish and maintain productive working relationships within, and outside of, your own organizational area.
• Respect conflicting points of view (willingness to listen to others' viewpoints).
• Establish and maintain credibility with others.
• Build partnerships with other departments.
• Effectively manage business politics as necessary (working within formal and informal boundaries).

Determine your ability to learn quickly. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Demonstrate a relentless and versatile capacity to learn.
• Be receptive to change.
• Analyze both successes and failures for clues to improvement.
• Experiment and willingly try innovative ideas to find solutions.
• Enjoy the challenge of unfamiliar tasks.
• Quickly grasp the essence and the underlying structure of new concepts.

Assess your ability to multitask. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Coordinate your time for assigned tasks.
• Shift between tasks efficiently.
• Prioritize important or urgent tasks.
• Assure that tasks are completed by deadline.

Assess your ability to implement organizational procedures in the workplace. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Maximize the use of your own personal, work group, department or organization's time.
• Prioritize tasks so that the most important receive the most attention.
• Create and follow a plan on how to accomplish assigned tasks.
• Keep paperwork and data logically filed so that information can be quickly accessed.

Determine your level of self-awareness in the workplace. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Be aware of and be able to articulate your own style of working with other people.
• Be aware of and be able to articulate your own values.
• Identify personal strengths and weaknesses.
• Utilize your individual talents and strengths.
• Be aware of your actions and how they affect other people.
• Understand your own personal learning style and capabilities.
• Take responsibility for your actions.
• Reflect on your past experiences, including past mistakes.

Assess your ability to coach and motivate others to reach their potential. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Recognize and encourage performance excellence.
• Recognize and analyze a performance problem.
• Identify effective strategies for modifying behaviors and attitudes.
• Plan and open a coaching session.
• Identify various ideas to assist the learner.
• Identify and demonstrate supportive coaching behavior.
• Understand the various questioning techniques.
• Employ and encourage a feedback process.

Assess your ability to utilize the appropriate communication vehicles based upon an analysis of the party (or parties) to which the communication is directed, and the situation at hand. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• List common audio and visual distractions.
• Prepare written documents that are concise, grammatically correct, and appropriate for the intended audience.
• Prepare and present information appropriately to others.
• Listen and respond appropriately, taking into consideration your own and others' body language.
• Understand and overcome the barriers to communication including verbal and nonverbal interference.
• Respond effectively to receiver feedback.
• Acknowledge receiver's emotions, expressed both verbally and nonverbally, as appropriate.
• Demonstrate congruence between verbal and nonverbal expression.

Assess your ability to use computers to assist with your current job, enhance your career prospects, or for general interest. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe the basic concepts and components of a computer.
• Identify the main I/O devices.
• Outline the function and importance of an operating system.
• Explain how the computer utilizes memory and storage.
• Identify the advantages of application software.
• Utilize current desktop applications necessary for your position (for example, a word processor, a spreadsheet, a database).
• Identify the benefits of e-mail and send e-mail messages.
• Explain what the Internet is, how it operates, and common search procedures.

Assess your ability to resolve conflict. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Apply a win/win approach to conflict resolution.
• Identify clues that parties are in conflict.
• Understand and adopt the usage of assertive statements.
• Identify the steps involved in the conflict mapping process.
• Choose the appropriate conflict resolution strategies for the specific situation.
• Identify and use rapport-building terms.
• Conduct a brainstorming session, when needed, to implement creative problem solving.
• Use active listening skills.

Assess your ability to analyze business cost/benefits. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Define the criteria to be used in an analysis e.g. what benefits are being sought and what cost/benefit ratios are acceptable based on organizational parameters and requirements.
• Frame an analysis so that the costs and benefits of different solutions can be compared and contrasted.
• Acquire in-house solution proposals, or solicit solutions from outside of the organization.
• Perform analysis and rank solutions for the most favorable cost/benefit ratios.
• Perform all documentation tasks and communicate your process and recommendations as required.

Assess your ability to prepare proposals in response to Request For Proposals (RFPs) or to create unsolicited proposals. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Prepare an initial draft of a proposal based on preliminary information.
• Identify the client need and strategies to meet needs.
• Research and prepare the proposal addressing all pertinent issues such as project timetable, the anticipated outcomes as related to client needs and how best to evaluate the results.
• Effectively proofread various drafts of a proposal to identify grammatical and content errors ensuring that final deliverable meets professional standards.
• Assist with the copying and binding and delivery of proposals as needed.

Assess your ability to provide efficient customer service. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify the key factors needed to encourage a positive customer relationship.
• Build a trusting relationship between yourself and your customers.
• Differentiate between internal and external customers.
• Demonstrate awareness of the customers' primary needs.
• Use effective telephone techniques dealing with customers.
• When a difficult situation arises, draw upon effective methods to deal with your own negative feelings.
• Establish methods to deal with customers' negative behaviors.
• Use effective communication skills to maintain relationships with customers.

Assess your ability to collect and analyze data. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Provide a project plan or research proposal.
• Collect data from your various sources in a timely fashion.
• Analyze data for common themes or values.
• Produce conclusions, recommendations, suggestions, and deliver to appropriate sources.

Assess your ability at decision making. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Analyze and distinguish core problems by looking at the symptoms.
• Tactfully support a position if challenged while staying open to possible concessions if new facts indicate the need.
• Resolve key issues behind major problems in the short term while developing and executing long term solutions.
• Apply strategies to implement effective decision making during crises.
• Facilitate group decision making.

Assess your delegation abilities. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Invest the time required for others to learn and perform the assigned activity.
• Convey the importance of the activity to the delegate so that a successful outcome is achieved.
• Describe the levels of responsibility when delegating a task.
• Identify and overcome the main barriers to delegation.
• Explain how delegation can contribute to developing knowledge, skills, experience, and confidence in others.

Assess your ability to develop standards, policies and procedures in line with organizational goals and objectives. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Research the current standards/policies/procedures for the activity in question, including using current leaders in the industry as a resource.
• Conduct information-gathering interviews with involved parties.
• Validate standards/policies/procedures with industry experts.
• Obtain approval from upper level management or specified decision-makers.

Assess you ability to make empowered decisions or take empowered actions. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Accept responsibility for the results of your actions and decisions.
• Interact responsively and assertively with clients and colleagues.
• Act with personal integrity and accountability.
• Be innovative and find new ways to develop solutions and improvements.

Assess your ability to coordinate events. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Organize the planning team and select committees or subcommittees as necessary.
• Identify trade show experts, professional associations and other potential parties to promote and discuss conference, convention, and trade show services.
• Organize the registration process, and the preparation of programs and promotional material.
• Publicize events, meeting with sponsors and organizing committees to plan the scope and the format of events.
• Coordinate services for events, such as accommodation and transportation for participants, facility renting, catering, signage, displays, translation, audio-visual equipment, printing and security.
• Provide post-event reports and recommendations.

Assess your ability to facilitate groups. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Successfully facilitate group sessions encouraging discussion and interaction.
• Encourage group problem solving.
• Acknowledge group dynamic processes and attitudes in the process of facilitation.
• Elicit responses by employing effective questioning techniques.
• Respond appropriately to both verbal and nonverbal messages from group members.
• Give and receive feedback effectively in the group setting.
• Lead group members in the discovery and/or development of a solution to a problem.
• Effectively summarize discussions, conclusions, and suggestions offered by group members.

Assess your ability to establish an information tracking system. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Create and maintain a paper or electronic repository that is properly organized to hold current information, documents in progress and research results.
• Create and maintain an indexing system to ensure documents can be easily found and accessed.
• Maintain current records of information sources.
• Periodically revise and/or delete obsolete information contained within repository.
• Establish security procedures for sensitive or confidential documents.
• Document information tracking procedures and circulate to all involved parties.

Assess your ability to successfully provide leadership. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify and acquire necessary personnel, resources and information for the group.
• Delegate responsibilities and ensure that group tasks are completed.
• Provide ongoing feedback to group members.
• Build a common vision to engage and motivate staff.
• Identify the factors that influence an individual's performance potential.
• Act as a role model and accept that a leader's performance provides an example to others.
• Identify and employ techniques that are used to promote innovation.

Assess your ability to listen and respond effectively. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Demonstrate effective listening by responding to people's concerns and adjusting your own behavior in a helpful and appropriate manner.
• Accurately predict and prepare for other's reactions.
• Demonstrate acceptance of the sender's message by avoiding expressing judgments and biases in your response.
• Consider all sides of a disagreement, elicit ideas/opinions from others and suggest effective alternatives.
• Identify others needs based on information gathered during interviews, meetings, etc.
• Understand the message being conveyed (even by poor communicators) and identify the key ideas the speaker is sending by paying close attention to what is being communicated both verbally and non-verbally (e.g. responding to body language).
• Provide feedback to the sender that their message is being received and understood by paraphrasing, using examples, further questioning, and other techniques.
• Depending upon the circumstances, identify the most effective way to present feedback, both positive and negative.

Assess your knowledge of logistical processes and sub processes. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Maintain current information on logistical processes such as warehouse management, distribution transportation, order management, electronic commerce, resource planning, delivery and electronic data interchange.
• Understand typical process flows for incoming and outgoing materials and products.
• Maintain awareness of the latest industry trends through current publications, Internet resources, client relationships, networking and participation in related professional associations.
• Maintain current knowledge of technical tools to aid logistical processes.
• Compare cross-industry logistical processes.

Assess your ability to conduct a needs analysis. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Set up client interviews with key players who can help to define what the current and future states look like for the client.
• Determine how the client's needs relate to any or all of the company's services.
• Conduct interviews in order to define and understand critical business issues, goals, problems, and needs associated with the client's current and future state.
• Perform analysis of the client interviews.
• Re-qualify the opportunity based on the needs analysis (e.g. discontinuing pursuit of some opportunities if appropriate).

Assess your negotiating ability. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify successful negotiations and key elements that contribute to reaching satisfactory conclusions.
• Recognize the components and application of the active listening technique .
• Understand the importance of determining goals before negotiating.
• Demonstrate knowledge of bargaining techniques.
• Recognize appropriate assertive statements.
• Broaden the scope of negotiations to come up with creative solutions creating a win/win situation.
• Identify the negotiating strategies of others and the underlying rationale of their negotiating points in order to better understand their position and true objectives (e.g. probe to understand underlying thought processes, leverage points).
• Effectively end a negotiation with clarification and a commitment.

Assess your ability to network. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Initiate contact with people that can provide professional advice or information.
• Follow up meetings with personal contact and feedback.
• Build informal contacts with others in the industry.
• Participate in industry and association events and conferences.
• Offer to share information with contacts when beneficial to building rapport and maintaining relationships.

Assess your ability to manage policies and procedures. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Ensure that all branches possess and understand policy and procedural guidelines.
• Update policies and procedures and distribute them as required.
• Make sure that employees can find, explain and carry out policies and procedures in designated areas (e.g. facilities, human resources, operations, recruiting).
• Make inspections to assure that policies and procedures are adhered to consistently and in accordance with quality standards.
• Document any deviations from standards and take appropriate action to bring the department or branch into compliance.
• Maintain awareness of related legislation and new services that could impact current policies and procedures.
• Perform any knowledge transfer tasks as required.

Assess your ability to give general presentations through the use of visual aids, written aids and props. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Use outline tools to organize the presentation.
• Create and modify the layout of slides and templates as needed.
• Create speaker notes and audience handouts.
• Proofread presentation for grammatical and content errors and make corrections as necessary.
• Format text, selecting the most effective font, color, and size (e.g. for easy reading or generating interest).
• Add charts and graphics to presentation as necessary.
• Speak clearly and confidently when presenting orally.

Assess your ability to resolve key issues behind major problems while developing and executing long term solutions. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Explain the benefits of group participation when identifying problems and causes.
• Distinguish causes from symptoms.
• Isolate the cause of a problem through tests and a logical, traceable process of elimination.
• Systematically examine a problem by decomposing it into smaller parts and investigating each piece.
• Describe the factors that determine success in the creation of solutions.
• Apply strategies to identify and implement creative solutions.
• Develop criteria for evaluating solutions.

Assess your ability to complete project administration tasks. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Complete, in an accurate and timely manner, such documents as time and expense reports, requests for absences, and education forms.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of budget control and reporting.
• Adhere to policies and procedures, including timeframes, for all reports and forms.
• Keep managers aware of the status of job responsibilities, projects, and key operational issues through formal and informal communications (e.g. status reports, e-mails, updates at meetings).
• Recommend changes to forms, documents, procedures, policies, etc. that will increase the effectiveness of day-to-day operations.

Assess your ability to effectively coordinate projects of various types. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following.

• Assemble project teams.
• Establish a project plan.
• Oversee budgeting and resource allocation.
• Delegate tasks to appropriate parties when necessary.
• Compose and review progress reports.
• Conduct mid-project evaluations.
• Organize short and long-term scheduling.
• Build relationship with team members and managers.

Assess your ability to conduct project cost estimates. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify the key concepts of resource deployment.
• Interpret cost estimation and cost budgeting.
• Carry out activity duration estimation.
• Perform estimating methodologies such as Order of Magnitude (OOM), Conceptual, Preliminary, Final/Definitive, and Reconciliation (Historical).
• Identify a cost management plan including such factors as payback period and depreciation of assets.
• Calculate cost and schedule variance.
• Estimate the cost performance index of a project.

Assess your ability to manage a project. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Explain the processes involved in the initiation phase of a project and the development of an overall project plan.
• Identify key stakeholders in the project.
• Identify and analyze environmental influences impacting on the project.
• Develop and manage the scope of a project.
• Describe in detail the process of resource allocation including human resources, and how cost, work, and time estimates are developed.
• Understand the risks involved in starting a project.
• Understand the importance of quality assurance and control.
• Develop effective communication skills to interact with members of the project team.

Assess you ability to provide the ongoing monitoring of projects. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Establish actual expenditures and compare to budget allocations.
• Compare actual project hours to forecasted timelines.
• Track materials and resources used for a project.
• Analyze the overall success and impact of a project.
• Track project problems and make necessary adjustments as required.
• Communicate project progress to involved parties (e.g. clients, lenders, management, etc.).

Assess your ability at project planning. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify the project scope.
• Explain the processes involved in initiating a project.
• Develop a work breakdown structure (WBS).
• Plan for uncertainty and assess project risks.
• Describe project management integration.
• Implement cost estimating techniques and a cumulative cost curve.
• Develop and execute a project schedule.
• Allocate and plan project resources.

Assess your ability to provide support to customers. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Describe and implement processes for identifying and resolving problems.
• Work with vendors or clients to ascertain desired solutions to problems.
• Use effective questioning techniques and listening skills to gather information.
• Analyze, isolate, and resolve defects and faults.
• When necessary provide "temporary fixes" in controlled situations.
• Review performance results to overcome ongoing problems.
• Track, document and continually communicate with the customer in order to monitor status until the problem is resolved.
• Build and maintain rapport with customers.

Assess your ability to purchase appropriate goods and services as required. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Accurately fill out purchase requests, purchase orders, delivery order and blanket purchase agreements.
• Select the best contract method to accomplish the action.
• Differentiate between a purchase order and a delivery order.
• Determine the requirements for ratification and the ratification procedures.
• Determine when competition is required in contracting and when a written justification is needed for purchases.
• Resolve administrative problems by issuing a modification.
• Determine when to avoid conflicts of interest and maintain ethics and standards of conduct.
• Understand the duties and responsibilities of all parties involved in the purchasing and contracting process.

Assess your ability to build productive and mutually beneficial relationships with others. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Identify persons with whom a business relationship is needed.
• Create an environment of trust and respect when dealing with associates and clients.
• Encourage straightforward and honest communication to ensure problems or issues of contention are dealt with quickly and effectively.
• Safeguard sensitive or confidential information.
• Proactively share information that is of value to encourage sharing of resources.

Assess your ability to manage risk. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Examine and define factors that could adversely affect the accomplishment of project tasks, delivery of contractual work products or achievement of customer satisfaction.
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
• Ensure attainment of revenue and profit objectives through management of risk.

Assess your ability to manage stress. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Display self-control, both mentally and physically, and exhibit tolerance and fairness during periods of uncertainty or ambiguity.
• Remain composed under pressure, providing a model for others.
• Explain the nature and causes of stress.
• Identify the consequences of stress, and apply stress management techniques, both physical and psychological.
• Explain and apply strategies to avoid burnout.
• Explain the consequences of stress on employee effectiveness and morale, and outline strategies for organizations to cope with stress.

Assess your skill at building effective teams. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Optimize available resources and software applications to track employee skills and talents.
• Assemble work teams with the right combination of knowledge, skills and experience to accomplish objectives.
• Integrate a range of people from a variety of sources into teams when needed.
• Create strong morale and spirit within teams.
• Foster open dialogue and collaboration among team members and among teams.
• Define success in terms of the whole team.
• Manage conflict within the team.
• Coordinate and ensure cross-functional team participation in the planning and implementation process.

Assess your ability to lead teams. As an expert without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Provide vision and insight to team members regarding the complexity and nature of a project, and whether it will require an understanding of new technology or methodology.
• Set clear and precise team goals, and individual goals based on specific strengths and developmental needs.
• Communicate with team members to keep them abreast of critical internal and external issues.
• Help to resolve conflicts that arise among team members and other outside sources.
• Represent the team positively to internal and external organizations.
• Ensure that all involved parties agree with the group's mission, values, goals, climate, and policies.
• Ensure that group and individual tasks are completed as planned.
• Provide appropriate rewards or incentives if necessary.

Assess your ability to demonstrate teamwork and cooperation. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Encourage and empower others, making them feel strong and/or important.
• Publicly credit others who have performed well.
• Respect individual contributions and capabilities showing an awareness and sensitivity to the needs of others.
• Understand the impact of your behavior on others.
• Participate in setting appropriate team goals.
• Assist others in meeting objectives that may not be under your direct control but that will help the team meet its goals.
• Tactfully and without alienating members, identify weaknesses in team functionality and encourage the group to identify a solution to enhance their effectiveness.
• Use an appropriate method to resolve and eliminate conflict.

Assess your ability to utilize effective telephone techniques. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Efficiently manage automated phone systems in order to establish contact with desired parties (e.g. obtain lists of employees and extensions, use the dial by name directory, etc.).
• Create and utilize scripts for telephone conversations.
• Create effective voicemail greetings and messages.
• Relay important ideas and points and gather essential information over a phone line using techniques such as concise message taking, logical and penetrating questioning, and summarization.
• Build rapport during telephone conversations and create a situation where others want to respond (e.g. demonstrate knowledge of subject matter, establish purpose of conversation, take advantage of commonalities, listen to what others are saying, demonstrate empathy).
• Maintain a professional and courteous attitude with those on the other end of the telephone.
• Manage difficult callers using appropriate strategies and interventions.

Assess your ability to manage time effectively. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Allocate resources to meet objectives by specified target dates.
• Value time and use time effectively and efficiently.
• Effectively balance changing priorities.
• Establish a process to complete routine and repetitive tasks on time.
• Overcome procrastination.
• Balance delegating and retaining tasks and responsibilities.
• Use project management software applications or other tools to create and manage timelines.
• Develop a daily planning system.

Assess your ability to evaluate potential vendors. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Determine and document evaluation criteria.
• Investigate various vendors and choose those best suited to your requirements based on such items as time in business, prices, shipping, reliability and quality.
• Compare and contrast the vendors that meet the selection criteria to determine which is the best choice.
• Solicit vendor references and contact references as part of evaluation.
• Stay abreast of the current releases from the vendor and their competition.
• Attend conferences, explore print literature and Internet sources to identify reliable and reputable vendors within your industry.

Assess your ability to manage vendors to successfully meet business objectives. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Maintain open communications with vendor representatives.
• Stay current on existing and new product and service offerings.
• Maintain knowledge and requirements of standard and special programs.
• Ensure program compliance is understood and maintained.
• Terminate contracts and relationships as necessary in a professional, straightforward manner.

Assess your verbal communication skills. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Convey thoughts to an audience in a clear, logical manner.
• Adjust communication style and content for the audience.
• Effectively communicate one-on-one or in groups.
• Explain the importance of two-way communication.
• Manage complex communication situations in an assertive, empowered manner.
• Describe and understand the importance of active listening.

Assess your ability as an effective writer. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Research the subject matter in order to provide accurate and current information.
• Adjust the style and content of your material to suit the intended audience.
• While communicating the message or ideas in writing, pay close attention to the general tone in order to project the desired perception (e.g. professional, casual, editorial).
• Edit writing for correct grammar, sentence structure, semantics, spelling and vocabulary.
• Understand the purpose of the document, keep the content on topic, and draw concise conclusions or propose recommendations if necessary.
• Structure and format the final document to convey the desired impression.

Assess your knowledge of statistics by your ability to work with contingency tables, x-y data displays, and regression. As an expert, without assistance, you should be able to perform the following:

• Explain how to create and accurately interpret a contingency table.
• Discuss false positives and other problems associated with contingency tables.
• Understand and interpret time-series plots.
• Discuss correlation and covariance, as well as the slope and intercept of a line.
• Define and interpret root mean squared error (RMSE) .
• Determine how well the line fits the given data.