Competency Explorer Use Case Analysis
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TAW Use Case Analysis
This page is currently an incomplete draft.
The use case titles and descriptions were generated automatically from the Use Case Google Sheet produced by the OCFC RWSC. The Levels of importance for each use case is based upon a survey provided to RWSC members that was completed on April 28, 2022. The survey is results are also recorded in the second tab of the above linked Use Case Google Sheet.
The current work is to fill out the "role of the search service", "search service requirements", "data assumptions" fields for each use case.
Common Assumptions
Many, if not all the use cases assume that:
- The competency definitions are available to the search service.
1 Document Competencies
As an instructional designer, I need to work with faculty to document competencies addressed by their courses in order to to support adequate student assessment as aligned to a particular job role.
Actor: Instructional Designer; cluster Alignment.
Data Object: Competency, Course, Workrole.
Level of importance: 2.55.
Role of the Search Service: find the competencies and provide the documentation about them.
Search Service Requirements:
- Search by work roles (or occupation/job/specialty) to find & display associated competencies.
- Capability to show the relationship between a competency and workrole(s) (etc.), when the data is available.
Data Assumptions:
- Competency data with links to/from workroles (or occupations/jobs/specialties) exist in the registry data.
Other Assumptions / requirements::
- Teaching and assessment are assumed to be managed (by some other system) in a way that relates them to the competencies.
2 Alignment of Competencies
As a competency frameworks developer, I need to align the skills and competencies in my frameworks to the skills and competencies in other frameworks using links defining levels of similarity to assist in interoperability with organizations using those frameworks.
Actor: Cross Organizational Roles; cluster Alignment.
Data Object: Competency Framework, Competency, Measure of Fit.
Level of importance: 2.58.
Role of the Search Service: The search service will allow the competency framework developer to find competencies in frameworks that are described in one or more nodes, to which they may document an alignment from competencies in the framework they are developing.
Search Service Requirements:
- Search service returns results based on a competency description.
- (optionally) the results returned have some indication of how close the match between the query and the results.
Data Assumptions:
- The standard being used for the framework being developed has the means of expressing alignment from competencies in that framework to those in another, with a measure of "fit".
Other Assumptions / requirements:
- The developer will have access to an application or tool to use to create their framework,
- this application or tool will allow alignments to be documented.
3 Mapping Competencies
As an instructional designer at an educational provider, I need to map skills and competencies identified by an employer looking for training opportunities to the skills and competencies in the college's courses and training programs.
Actor: Instructional Designer; cluster Mapping.
Data Object: Competency, Course.
Level of importance: 2.64.
Role of the Search Service: Help instructional designer find relevant competencies based on info provide by employer.
Search Service Requirements:
- Search service returns results based on a competency description.
- (optionally) the results returned have some indication of how close the match between the query and the results.
- Results must include: those properties that contextualize the competence, e.g. links to courses, jobs, if they exist.
Data Assumptions:
- Data on competencies that are learning objectives of courses are available to the search service.
Other Assumptions / requirements: Instructional designer already has access to employer's required skills but needs to find relevant skills that are learning objectives in the courses offered.
5 Strength of Fit
As an organization, we need to statistically measure the similarities or strength of fit between competencies in two different competency frameworks that have been published by two different organizations and expressed, perhaps, in different meta-models (via both algorithmic transparency and provision of good documentation).
Actor: Organization to Organization; cluster Alignment.
Data Object: Competency Framework, Competency, Organization.
Level of importance: 2.36.
Role of the Search Service: Provide access to the definitions of the identified competencies in the required meta-model, and a measure of similarity.
Search Service Requirements:
- Translate between formats & deliver competency definitions in required meta-model [this capability already exists].
- Provide access to related documentation.
- Measure similarity between competencies (acknowledging that it might be difficult).
- Provide information about how measure of similarity was arrived at.
Data Assumptions:
- The mapping exists to get from the initial meta-model to that required.
Other Assumptions / requirements:
Notes: discussed May 11. Meta-model is the OCFC term for what is called format in initial use case. Similarity may be made on other measures than statistical.
6 Align Credentials to Industry Recognized Frameworks
As a designer of digital credentials, I need to align the competencies of those credentials to the competencies in the most recognized industry frameworks used by specific employers.
Actor: Cross Organizational Roles; cluster Alignment.
Data Object: Credential, Competency, Industry (classification), Employer (Organization).
Level of importance: 2.58.
Role of the Search Service:
- Allow the user to identify the relevant competencies in recognized industry frameworks.
Search Service Requirements:
- Determine the "most recognized frameworks," e.g. based on usage statistics? links made to framework?
- Given a competency description and target frameworks, identify and return the closest matching competencies in the target framework.
- optionally this may be a "bulk process", i.e. provide an array of competency descriptions, get matches for each.
- (optionally) the results returned have some indication of how close the match between the query and the results.
Data Assumptions:
- Competency descriptions are in frameworks with some indication of industry recognition.
Other Assumptions / requirements:
- The means of expressing an alignment between discovered competencies and credential is available to the designer.
11 Search Criteria for Occupation Alignment
As a student interested in a specific occupation, I need to search the OCFC network for competencies aligned to that occupation.
Actor: Learner; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency, Occupation.
Level of importance: 2.45.
Role of the Search Service:
- Find competences / frameworks for a known occupation.
Search Service Requirements:
- Given a means of identifying an occupation, return related framework and competency descriptions.
Data Assumptions:
- The competence descriptions reference the occupations that require them, or this information can be inferred from a reference in the other direction.
Other Assumptions / requirements:
12 Search Criteria for Training Alignment
As a student interested in an occupation requiring specific competencies, I need to use the OCFC to find education and training opportunities where I can attain those competencies.
Actor: Learner; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency, Occupation, Learning Opportunity.
Level of importance: 2.09.
Role of the Search Service: Identify competencies required for specified occupations.
Search Service Requirements:
- Given a means of identifying an occupation, return relevant frameworks / competency descriptions.
Data Assumptions:
- The competence descriptions reference the occupations that require them, or this information can be inferred from a reference in the other direction.
Other Assumptions / requirements:
- Some other service will be able to identify education and training opportunities based on competency descriptions.
- That service may need to know what competencies the student already has attained in order to find suitable training opportunity (e.g. using LER).
15 Search Criteria for Industry Certification Alignment
As an online education provider, I need to find the competencies that are aligned to a specific industry certification.
Actor: Online Education Provider; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency, Credential (industry).
Level of importance: 2.73.
Role of the Search Service: Identify competencies aligned to specified industry certifications
Search Service Requirements:
- Given a means of identifying an industry certification, return relevant frameworks / competency descriptions.
Data Assumptions:
- The competence descriptions reference the industry certifications that require them, or this information can be inferred from a reference in the other direction.
Other Assumptions / requirements:
7 Map Training to Industry Recognized Frameworks
As an employer issuing badges to employees for internal training, I need to map the training competencies to competencies in recognized industry competency frameworks.
Actor: HR/Training; cluster Mapping.
Data Object: Competency Framework, Competency.
Level of importance: 2.55.
Role of the Search Service:
- Allow the user to identify the relevant competencies in the recognized industry frameworks -phil
Search Service Requirements:
- Given a means of identifying an industry, find frameworks relevant to it. ~~phil
- Given a description of a training competency and an industry, find other relevant competency descriptions. ~~phil
Data Assumptions:
- Competency descriptions are in frameworks with some means of identifying the relevant industry ~~phil
Other Assumptions / requirements:
- The badge issuer has means to express the mapping in the competence descriptions they control, i.e. tooling, support in meta-model etc. ~~phil
8 Map Jobs to Industry Recognized Frameworks
As an employer issuing badges to employees for internal training that can support the employees' career advancement, I need to map the training competencies to jobs that have been benchmarked to competencies in recognized industry frameworks.
Actor: HR/Training; cluster Mapping.
Data Object: Competency Framework (Training & Industry), Competency, Jobs.
Level of importance: 2.45.
Role of the Search Service: find competencies in recognized industry frameworks, based on known training competencies. ~~phil
Search Service Requirements:
- Given a description of a competency, return related framework and competency descriptions. ~~phil
- Identify those similar competencies that are in recognized industry frameworks. ~~phil
Data Assumptions: Competency descriptions are in frameworks with some indication of industry recognition ~~phil
Other Assumptions / requirements: badge issuer has means to express the mapping in the competences descriptions they control, i.e. tooling, support in meta-model etc. ~~phil
9 Map Badges to Industry Recognized Frameworks to Support Career Pathways
As an employer issuing badges to employees for internal training, I need to map those badges to jobs benchmarked to recognized industry competency frameworks that support lateral, vertical and latticed career advancement pathways in the organization.
Actor: HR/Training; cluster Mapping.
Data Object: Credential, Competency Framework, Job, Pathway.
Level of importance: 2.36.
Role of the Search Service: Identify jobs that require many of the same competencies as the badges reference. ~~phil
Search Service Requirements:
- Given a number of competency descriptions, find jobs that require the described competencies (e.g. find similar competencies and hence the jobs that they reference). ~~phil
Data Assumptions:
- The competence descriptions reference the jobs that require them, or this information can be inferred from a reference in the other direction. ~~phil
Other Assumptions / requirements:
17 Search Criteria for Credentials with Competencies
As a curriculum developer for an educational provider, I need to find industry certifications with required competencies that align to competencies taught and assessed in our existing and new certificates and degrees.
Actor: Instructional Designer; cluster Search.
Data Object: Credential (Industry)(College), Course, Competency.
Level of importance: 2.73.
Role of the Search Service: Identify industry certifications that require many of the same competencies as are covered by a credential. ~~phil
Search Service Requirements:
- Given a number of competency descriptions, find industry certifications that require the described competencies (e.g. find similar competencies and hence the jobs that they reference). ~~phil
Data Assumptions:
- The competence descriptions reference the industry certifications that require them, or this information can be inferred from a reference in the other direction. ~~phil
Other Assumptions / requirements:
18 Search Criteria for Credentials with Competencies
As a prior learning director at an educational provider, I need to find the competencies associated with specific industry certifications and crosswalk them to the competencies in our courses to determine equivalencies.
Actor: Prior Learning Director / Registrar; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency, Credential (Industry), Course.
Level of importance: 2.55.
Role of the Search Service:
- find competencies for specific industry certification ~~phil
- determine equivalence between competencies (i.e. those in industry certification & those taught in courses). ~~phil
Search Service Requirements:
- Given a means of identifying an industry certification, return relevant frameworks / competency descriptions. ~~phil
- Given a competency description and target framework, identify and return the closest matching competencies in the target framework. -phil
- optionally this may be a "bulk process", i.e. provide an array of competency descriptions, get matches for each. -phi
- (optionally) the results returned have some indication of how close the match between the query and the results. -phil
- Ideally the first and second items (finding framework and matching competencies) could be daisy-chained. ~~phil
Data Assumptions:
- The competence descriptions reference the industry certifications that require them, or this information can be inferred from a reference in the other direction. ~~phil
Other Assumptions / requirements:
13 Search Criteria for Creator or Provider
As an instructional designer searching for competencies through the OCFC, I need to have information *identifying* the creator or provider of the competencies.
Actor: Instructional Designer; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency, Competency Framework, Creator/Publisher (identify).
Level of importance: 2.45.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
14 Search Criteria for Description of Creator or Provider
As an instructional designer searching for competencies through the OCFC, I need to have information *describing* the creator or provider of the competencies.
Actor: Instructional Designer; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency, Competency Framework, Creator/Publisher (describe).
Level of importance: 2.36.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
4 Selection Criteria Creator Information
As an instructional designer searching for competency frameworks to guide course development, I need sufficient descriptive information about the type and status of the creators of each framework such as profit vs. non-profit, industry group, academic.
Actor: Cross Organizational Roles; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency Framework, Course, Organization (Type).
Level of importance: 2.4.
Role of the Search Service: Provide information about creators of frameworks.
Search Service Requirements: Display information / link to information about creators of a framework.
Data Assumptions: Information about framework creators (at least a name and URL) is available in the data. There is a distinct possibility that this will not be available in all metamodels.
Other Assumptions / requirements: Assume that given a link to the framework creator's website the required information can be found.
10 Result display options
As a university professor searching the OCFC for industry-defined competencies I'll want to align to from my course learning outcomes, I need the OCFC search engine to give me the option of: (a) displaying the actual knowledge, skill and disposition statements that satisfy my search; OR (b) displaying a list of competency frameworks in which those statements can be found by me browsing the content of each framework.
Actor: Faculty; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency Framework, Competency.
Level of importance: 2.64.
Role of the Search Service:
- Find competencies and display results. ~~Phil
Search Service Requirements:
- Display the KSA statements of the competencies satisfying the query. [StuartS]
- Provide the means to select a display option: a framework view, a KSA view, or a combined framework/KSA view. [StuartS]
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
16 Skill Gap Analysis
As an instructional designer, I need to identify the skills gaps of clients' employees in order to provide training to fill those gaps.
Actor: Cross Organizational Roles; cluster Analysis.
Data Object: Competency, Course, Employee (skills profile), Workrole (skills profile), Job (skills profile).
Level of importance: 1.91.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
19 Map Student's Job Competencies to College Courses
As an educational provider in the prior learning director role, I need to map the validated competencies achieved by a student on the job to competencies in the college's courses.
Actor: Prior Learning Director / Registrar; cluster Mapping.
Data Object: Competencies, Student, Job, Course.
Level of importance: 2.18.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
20 Map Student's Military Competencies to College Courses
As a college prior learning director, I need to map a student's military training and/or work role competencies to my college's course and certificate competencies to determine the number of prior learning credits to be awarded.
Actor: Prior Learning Director / Registrar; cluster Mapping.
Data Object: Competency, Workrole (Military), Course, Credential.
Level of importance: 218.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
21 Search Criteria for Usage License
As an employer searching for competencies using the OCFC search service, the competency frameworks returned by my searches must indicate whether there are licensing constraints on my use of the frameworks or the competencies they contain.
Actor: General Employer; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency Framework, Competency, License.
Level of importance: 2.73.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
22 Search Display Criteria Indicate Occupation
As an employer searching the OCFC, I need to have some indication either through color coding text or other visual device that a skill returned by the search has been mapped to an occupation in a taxonomy.
Actor: General Employer; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency, Occupation (taxonomy).
Level of importance: 2.09.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
23 Search Criteria Indicate Occupations with Labels and Links to Description
As an employer searching the OCFC, I need any skills returned by the search that have been linked by their creators to occupations in a taxonomy to display the textual labels of those occupations and provide a link to their source descriptions.
Actor: General Employer; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency, Occupation (taxonomy).
Level of importance: 2.64.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
24 Search Criteria Indicate Source Registry
As an instructional designer searching the OCFC for competencies, I need the results returned to indicate through text and/or logo the registry or library in which the competencies are made available.
Actor: Instructional Designer; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency, Registry (host).
Level of importance: 2.36.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
25 Map Competencies Across Instructional Delivery Methods
As (a person) creating training materials for other trainers, I can map competencies or skill statements at a granular level to align across different instructional delivery methods.
Actor: HR/Training; cluster Mapping.
Data Object: Competency, Learning Opportunity, Instructional Delivery Method.
Level of importance: 2.2.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
26 Demand Occupations Analysis
As a person, I need to input a person’s validated cluster of skills in an occupation with waning demand and have returned a list of: (a) in demand occupations with skills adjacent to those currently held by the person; and (b) skill gaps needing to be filled for successful transition.
Actor: Career Support Organizations + Advisors+ Workforce Planning; cluster Analysis.
Data Object: Competency, Occupation (skill profile), Person (skill profile).
Level of importance: 2.09.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
27 Issue Badges for Acquired Skills
As a provider of skills in the informal sector, I need to provide the learners with digital badges for their newly acquired skills.
Actor: Alternative Learning Provider; cluster Alignment.
Data Object: Competency, Credential.
Level of importance: 2.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
28 Skill Gap Analysis
As a company training provider with a skills analysis complete for an employee in a specific work role, I need to determine the skills gap between the learner’s (or larger succession plan) current work role and the skills requirements of a new work role in order to design a training plan for the employee.
Actor: HR/Training; cluster Analysis.
Data Object: Competency, Person, Workrole, Learning Opportunity.
Level of importance: 2.18.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
29 Align Informal Skill Attainment to Frameworks
As a (person)/(as a provider of ) having skills from alternative and nonformal learning settings, I need to establish how the skills gained align to a competency framework so that I can identify and map to documented skills.
Actor: HR/Training; cluster Alignment.
Data Object: Competency.
Level of importance: 2.4.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
30 Search Criteria for Multiple Sources of Frameworks
As a provider of skills data, I need to access existing competencies in available frameworks across multiple sources to provide to my customers.
Actor: Platform Provider; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency Framework, Competency, Publisher, Registry (host).
Level of importance: 2.33.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
31 Criteria for Information to Verify Legal Use
As a registry node in the OCFC search network, I must have reasonable means in the network to verify that my competency frameworks are being used by other registry nodes in the network as specified in law (e.g., copyright) and inter-registry node agreement.
Actor: Platform Provider; cluster Search.
Data Object: Transaction Data.
Level of importance: 2.56.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
32 Criteria for License Display
As a registry node in the OCFC search network, my end-user license must be present on any displays of my registry’s data by another registry node in the network.
Actor: Platform Provider; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency Framework, Competency, License.
Level of importance: 2.27.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
33 Skill Cluster Analysis
As a consultant in an economic development organization advising, recruiting, or brokering for companies seeking to select a new region of the country in which to locate or relocate, I need to analyze the skills clusters of the company’s current employees and map them to the skills clusters of potential employees in the regions being considered in order to: (a) ascertain the skills gaps that would need to be filled in each candidate region; (b) assess available regional training opportunities to fill the skills gaps; and (c) help select the region with the best talent pool fit to the companies needs.
Actor: Workforce Intermediary Organization, Collective Impact Lead, or Economic Development Organization; cluster Analysis.
Data Object: Competency, Region, Job (skill profile), Workrole (skill profile), Employee (skill profile), Learning Opportunity.
Level of importance: 2.09.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
34 Analysis of an Individual's Skills
As a career advisor at an educational provider, I need to help identify the knowledge and skills of advisees based on their formal and informal education and training and to assist students in mapping the knowledge and skills they have already attained to knowledge and skills requirements for occupations as defined by industries, professions and licensing agencies in order to find the best fit and next steps in career progress for the student.
Actor: Career Support Organizations + Advisors; cluster Analysis.
Data Object: Competency, Person (skill profile), Occupation (skill profile), Course.
Level of importance: 2.27.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
35 Identify Competencies with Formal or Informal Training
As a prior learning director, I need to identify competencies associated with prior formal or informal education or training in order to determine course and certificate equivalencies and credits that might be awarded.
Actor: Prior Learning Director / Registrar; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency, Learning Opportunity (formal & informal), Course, Credential.
Level of importance: 2.27.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
36 Search Node Only
As a competency framework registry administrator, I want our registry node in the OCFC search network to provide our users with the ability to search the network for relevant skills and competencies; but, for various reasons, we do not want to provide access to our collection (at this time).
Actor: Cross Organizational Roles; cluster Search.
Data Object: .
Level of importance: 2.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
37 Search Criteria for Frameworks for Cross-Occupation Functions
As an employer, I need to find competency frameworks for critical business functions/processes such as cybersecurity, project management, machining, industrial maintenance that span more than one occupation.
Actor: General Employer; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency Framework, Domain.
Level of importance: 2.36.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
38 Search Criteria for Foundational Employability Skills
As an employer, I need to identify the cross-cutting employability skills that are foundational across any industry such as leadership, critical thinking, and teamwork.
Actor: General Employer; cluster Search.
Data Object: Competency, Domain.
Level of importance: 2.36.
Role of the Search Service:
Search Service Requirements:
Data Assumptions:
Other Assumptions / requirements:
