EPMS Skills Tracking: Competency Assessment and Development
Overview
EPMS Skills Tracking is an enhanced module that provides comprehensive competency assessment, skills gap analysis, and development planning capabilities. This system helps organizations identify skill strengths and gaps, plan professional development, and align individual capabilities with business objectives.
Prerequisites: EPMS Goals Management module must be enabled (Skills Tracking builds on goal-setting capabilities)
Who this is for: HR Administrators, Managers, and Employees focused on professional development and career growth
How Skills Tracking Works
Core Skills Framework
Skills Assessment Process
1. Self-Assessment
Employee Process:
- Navigate to EPMS β Skills Tracking β My Skills
- Complete self-assessment for assigned competencies
- Rate current proficiency level (1-5 scale)
- Provide evidence and examples of skill application
- Identify areas for development and growth interests
Proficiency Scale:
- 1 - Novice: Basic awareness, requires significant guidance
- 2 - Developing: Some experience, needs supervision
- 3 - Proficient: Competent, works independently
- 4 - Advanced: Expert level, mentors others
- 5 - Master: Thought leader, sets standards
2. Manager Assessment
Manager Review Process:
Manager Actions:
- Review employee self-assessments
- Provide independent manager ratings
- Compare self vs. manager assessments
- Discuss discrepancies in 1:1 meetings
- Collaborate on development priorities
3. 360-Degree Skills Feedback (Optional)
When 360 Feedback module is enabled:
- Peer assessments of collaborative skills
- Cross-functional project feedback
- Customer/client interaction skills
- Leadership effectiveness (for managers)
Skills Gap Analysis
Automated Gap Identification
The system automatically identifies skill gaps by comparing:
Current State vs. Target State:
- Employee current proficiency levels
- Role requirements and expectations
- Career path skill requirements
- Industry benchmarks (when available)
Gap Analysis Dashboard:
Skills Development Planning
Individual Development Plans Integration
Skills gaps automatically flow into development planning:
- Prioritized Skill Development Goals
- Critical gaps become mandatory development goals
- Important gaps become suggested goals
- Future needs become stretch goals
- Learning Resource Recommendations
- Internal training programs (via LMS integration)
- External courses and certifications
- Mentoring and coaching opportunities
- On-the-job development projects
- Development Timeline Planning
- Short-term goals (3-6 months)
- Medium-term objectives (6-12 months)
- Long-term career development (1-3 years)
Skills Matrix and Team Analytics
Team Skills Overview
For Managers:
View comprehensive team skills matrix showing:
| Employee | Core Competencies | Technical Skills | Leadership | Development Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Smith | 4.2/5 | 3.8/5 | 3.0/5 | Leadership Development |
| Jane Doe | 4.8/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 | Advanced Technical |
| Mike Johnson | 3.5/5 | 4.0/5 | 2.5/5 | Core Competencies |
Skills Analytics
Organizational Insights:
- Skills strength distribution across teams
- Common skill gaps requiring training investment
- High-potential employees with advanced capabilities
- Succession planning skills analysis
- Training ROI and skill improvement tracking
Team Planning Features:
- Project staffing based on required skills
- Skills-based team formation
- Knowledge transfer planning
- Succession readiness assessment
Integration with Other EPMS Modules
Performance Reviews Integration
Automatic Skills Context:
- Skills assessments feed into performance review discussions
- Performance ratings consider skill demonstration
- Development goals linked to skill improvement
- Career progression tied to skills advancement
Goals Management Integration
Skills-Based Goal Setting:
- Skill development goals auto-generated from gap analysis
- SMART goals template for skill improvement
- Progress tracking against skill development targets
- Manager collaboration on skill priorities
Development Plans Integration
Comprehensive Development Planning:
- Skills gaps drive development plan creation
- Learning paths mapped to skill improvement
- Progress tracking across multiple skills
- Career advancement planning based on skills growth
Getting Started with Skills Tracking
For HR Administrators
Initial Setup:
- Enable Skills Tracking Module
- Navigate to EPMS β System Administration β Settings
- Enable βSkills Trackingβ in enhanced modules
- Configure organizational competency framework
- Define Competency Framework
- Set up core competencies for organization
- Define role-specific technical skills
- Configure proficiency scales and definitions
- Import industry-standard frameworks if available
- Role-Based Skills Requirements
- Map skills requirements to job roles
- Set minimum proficiency levels
- Define career progression skill paths
- Configure assessment schedules
For Managers
Team Skills Management:
- Launch Team Skills Assessment
- Review and approve employee self-assessments
- Provide manager ratings and feedback
- Identify team skills strengths and gaps
- Prioritize development needs
- Development Planning
- Collaborate with employees on skill development goals
- Approve individual development plans
- Monitor progress and provide support
- Adjust priorities based on business needs
For Employees
Personal Skills Development:
- Complete Skills Assessment
- Honest self-evaluation of current capabilities
- Provide specific examples and evidence
- Identify areas of interest for growth
- Set personal development priorities
- Development Goal Setting
- Work with manager to set skill development goals
- Create action plans for skill improvement
- Track progress and celebrate achievements
- Seek feedback and support from team
Best Practices
Effective Skills Assessment
- Be Honest and Specific: Accurate self-assessment leads to better development
- Provide Examples: Support ratings with concrete examples
- Focus on Growth: View gaps as opportunities, not deficiencies
- Regular Updates: Keep skills profiles current as you develop
Manager Guidance
- Regular Check-ins: Discuss skills development in 1:1 meetings
- Provide Opportunities: Create stretch assignments for skill building
- Give Feedback: Specific feedback helps skill development
- Support Growth: Connect employees with learning resources
Organizational Success
- Consistent Framework: Use standardized competency definitions
- Regular Calibration: Ensure rating consistency across managers
- Investment in Development: Provide resources for skill building
- Recognition and Rewards: Acknowledge skills growth and application
Summary
EPMS Skills Tracking transforms professional development from ad-hoc efforts into systematic, data-driven capability building. By providing clear visibility into skills gaps and development needs, organizations can:
- Align Individual Growth with business objectives
- Identify Talent and succession planning opportunities
- Optimize Training Investment based on actual skill gaps
- Improve Performance through targeted skill development
- Support Career Progression with clear skill pathways
For additional guidance on related modules, see our articles on Development Plans, Goals Management, and Performance Reviews.