Case Studies
Pilot project underway for Skills Identification
Having the right people with the right skills in the right job is essential for enterprise to compete and be successful in the modern business world.
However, employers often don’t have the tools or means to identify and assess skill levels of their employees, and don’t know where to find an agency or company to do it for them.
In 2005, employers in the area served by the Workforce Development Board identified the need to continue to raise the level of literacy and essential skills in the workplace to compete effectively in a knowledge-based, world-wide economy.
A 21-member committee was formed to provide employers with guidance and direction for skill level identification, assessment and resources. This group included representatives from manufacturers, educators at the secondary, college and university levels, industry associations, social agencies and various levels of government.
During its initial work, several issues and concerns surfaced. Among them:
- Employers needed information and training about literacy, essential skills, prior learning assessment and emotional intelligence before buy-in could be expected.
- Implementation needed to be approached in a methodical, sensitive manner in any organization.
- “Champions” should be identified in work places who would introduce the process in a small part of the organization.
- Education at the management level would be done during the initial stage of any implementation plan.
- An implementation plan would include methods of measuring success specific to the participating organization.
A pilot project, supported by the committee’s expertise, was felt to be the best way to move the process into the workplace. GE Plastics in Cobourg volunteered to be a pilot project where implementation of the Skills Identification Process could be tested using a competency framework.
Workshops were arranged for leadership staff and later for employees involved in the pilot project. (Employees on GE Plastic’s Joint Health and Safety Committee were the initial group involved.)
While the pilot project is still underway, preliminary results are expected in early to mid 2007.