As part of the Cornell IT Career Framework, twelve competencies are considered to be the foundational pieces for proficiency in job performance when combined with core duties and specific, job-related skills, and knowledge. 

A competency is a skill, area of knowledge, ability, or behavioral characteristic that is associated with superior performance. Career success is both about what you do (applying your technical knowledge, skills, and ability) along with how you do it (the consistent behaviors you demonstrate and choose to use) while interacting and communicating with others at work.

Project Management

Functional

• Uses planning processes to assess opportunities and barriers.
• Develops short and long-range plans to meet goals.
• Can map and manage complex initiatives.
• Selects and successfully leads projects/programs that produce favorable results including both business and financial outcomes.
• Actively provides contract management.

Behavioral

• Continually adjusts plans and strategies based on new information.
• Identifies and coordinates appropriate resources to support objectives.

Service Brokers

Functional

• Facilitates local and commercial IT transactions.
• Negotiates and manages contracts.
• Manages external relationships with service providers both inside and outside of the university.

Behavioral

• Acts as a partner, advisor, or intermediary.
• Awareness of units, divisions, and university needs.

Business Analytics/Analysis

Functional

• Possesses financial savvy and demonstrates the ability to lead cost-efficient initiatives without sacrificing quality or core values.  Knows how to manage, deploy, and leverage resources (both internally and externally).
• Able to breakdown raw information and undefined problems into specific, workable components and clearly identify the issues at hand.
• Coordinates the information gathering and reporting process. Reviews trends and compares to expectations. Translates analytical reports into management presentations, and provides guidance to resolve issues.
• Prioritizes multiple issues and opportunities.
• Identifies relationships and linkages within several information sources.

Behavioral

• Makes logical conclusions, anticipates obstacles, and considers different approaches to the decision-making process.
• Anticipates issues that are not readily apparent on the surface. Identifies root causes and effects.  Anticipates the possible outcome of potential solutions.
• Defines priorities within performance objectives. Reports and identifies areas that need guidance in order to resolve complex issues.

Intrinsic Motivation/Self-Motivated Learner

Behavioral

• Volunteers to undertake tasks that stretch his or her capability.
• Knows personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and limits.
• Seeks feedback and gains insight from mistakes.
• Is open to criticism and is not defensive.

Critical Thinking

Functional

• Gathers and uses all available information and logic to make a decision, including evaluating the long-term consequences.
• Makes timely and sound decisions based on data and facts.

Behavioral

• Makes decisions judged to be right for the university versus what his/her group might prefer, even though they may be difficult choices.
• Takes ownership for decisions.
• Sees power of peer review and feedback.

Analysis/Investigation

Functional

• Conducts research to define problems and prepares responses to anticipated questions.
• Conducts research to analyze future trends and their possible implementation or implications.

Behavioral

• Probes and initiates research to identify critical problems and possibilities.

Leading Without Authority

Functional

• Can negotiate and handle problems. 
• Addresses and accepts challenges.
• Delegates both responsibility and authority as appropriate.
• When appropriate, develops the leadership and talent of those around him or her.

Behavioral

• Understands others and is able to get their cooperation through influence.
• Recognizes different points of view, brings them out into the open, and builds on areas of agreement.
• Exercises influence in ways that enhance the support needed to advance initiatives.
• Builds consensus when appropriate.
• Knows how to build working relationships with co-workers and external parties.

Change Agent

Functional

• Encourages prudent risk-taking, exploration of alternative approaches, and organizational learning.
• Mobilizes others to support change through times of stress and uncertainty.
• Accepts role as a change agent and acts as a champion for change. Participates in change programs by planning implementation activities with other change champions.
• Interprets the meaning of new strategic directions for the work group and sets objectives and standards.
• Implements monitoring and feedback systems. Evaluates progress and finds ways of making continuous improvements. Solicits and offers ideas for improving primary business processes.
• Voluntarily takes the first steps to identify and address existing and potential obstacles, issues, and opportunities.
• Seeks out new challenges that require risk taking.  Keeps responding to the challenge in spite of obstacles and setbacks.

Behavioral

• Demonstrates personal commitment to change through actions and words.
• Initiates new approaches through collaboration with peers and business partners.
• Agility - Accepts the ambiguity that comes with change activities.

Building Relationships and Collaboration

Functional

• Obtains and shares information, ideas, and problems. Readily determines to whom to go for relevant information.
• Can maneuver through political situations effectively to get things done.
• Sets objectives necessary for obtaining feedback and assistance.
• Attends and maintains relationships with relevant formal and informal professional groups and organizations.
• Places team needs and priorities above individual needs.

Behavioral

• Builds both formal and informal professional relationships.
• Maintains and fosters relationships within, across, and external to organizational boundaries.
• Involves others in making decisions that affect them.
• Draws on the strengths of colleagues and gives credit to others’ contributions and achievements.

Accountability

Functional

• Takes appropriate actions to ensure obligations are met. Revises standards in response to change.
• Demonstrates attention to detail and accuracy.
• Defines and organizes tasks, responsibilities, and priorities. Takes responsibility for timely completion.
• Performs tasks according to quality and output standards.

Behavioral

• Acts in an ethical manner.
• Clearly defines mutual expectations of self and others.
• Takes initiative to ensure that outcomes meet internal and external customer requirements.
• Solicits feedback on performance in new tasks.

Strategic Technology Planning

Functional

• Makes decisions and recommendations clearly linked to the organization’s strategy and financial goals.
• Contributes to the organization’s development of a vision and priorities.
• Identifies business/performance opportunities in areas to support teaching and learning.
• Creates business case for investment in process and technological enhancements.
• Provides clear explanations for the integration and alignment of technology and business functions, focusing on the strategic value provided.

Behavioral

• Anticipates the future and builds scenarios based on explicit assumptions.
• Sees the big picture when analyzing goals, strategies, services, or processes.

Striving for Service Excellence

Functional

• Develops and implements technical solutions that meet operational improvement needs. Ensures that decisions are supported by relevant stakeholders, as well as sound performance data. Effectively communicates technology changes to clients and how the changes affect their business drivers.
• Directs and coordinates the development and implementation of process-based solutions that cross organizational lines.
• Identifies, documents, and monitors key business processes needed to achieve successful business results. Maps and documents processes. Develops framework for process improvement.
• Continually communications with customers.

Behavioral

• Thinks about users first.
• Maintains eye towards quality.
• Understands and relates to customers/users.