Managing Resources
Planning, allocating, and mobilizing resources (human, physical, information, and financial resources) to achieve organizational goals.
Level 1 Uses resources effectively
BEHAVIORS
- Uses resources in a conscientious and effective manner.
- Sets priorities and manages time to accomplish objectives.
- Seeks ways to improve personal efficiency and effectiveness.
QUESTIONS
- Describe a project you worked on where there was a strict deadline to adhere to.
Probing Questions
* What was the project?
* What resources did you have at your disposal?
* Did you set priorities? If so, what were they?
* What steps did you take to ensure that your deadline was met?
- Sometimes, we are unable to have all the resources perceived to be necessary to complete a task and we have to make do with what we have. Tell us about a situation where you had to work with a limited amount of resources.
Probing Questions
* What was the task?
* What were the goals or expectations?
* What resources were you given? What resources were missing?
* How did you utilize your resources in order to fulfill the task?
Level 2 Monitors the use of resources
BEHAVIORS
- Identifies resourcing needs to effectively support current initiatives, services and offerings.
- Communicates expectations and objectives of resource usage, providing ongoing feedback, and addressing shortcomings.
- Considers the workload, commitments and priorities of individuals when setting expectations and assigning work.
- Monitors and ensures the efficient and appropriate use of resources.
QUESTIONS
- Describe a project where you were given the task of identifying the required resources (e.g.: personnel, funding, etc.).
Probing Questions
* What was the project?
* What were the goals and expectations of the project?
* What resources were required?
* What factors led you to determine the appropriate resources?
* Describe a program where you had to monitor the resources (e.g.: personnel, funding, etc.).
Probing Questions
* What was the program/project?
* What resources did you have at your disposal?
* How did you ensure that resources were used effectively to meet the goals and expectations?
* How did you address shortcomings if any?
- Describe a situation where you were in charge of determining the workload of others.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* How did you determine the appropriate workload of others?
* How did you ensure that work expectations and objectives were clear to others?
* How did you ensure others knew how they were doing?
Level 3 Manages the use of resources
BEHAVIORS
- Control resources within their own area, including the allocation of resources.
- Implement ways of more effectively utilizing resources.
- Controls financial resources within own area, allocating resources based on goals, priorities and budget.
- Implement processes that improve the quality of planning, control and decision-making.
- Provides models, encouragement and / or incentives for generating revenue and optimizing the use of resources.
QUESTIONS
- Describe a project you worked on that had to adhere to a strict budget.
Probing Questions
* What was the project?
* What type of constraints did the budget create?
* How did you identify where the funds at your disposal should go?
* How did you ensure that the project remained focused on goals and expectations?
- Describe a program/project that you had to plan.
Probing Questions
* What was the program/project?
* How did you create a plan for the project/program?
* What resources did you have at your disposal?
* How did you manage these resources?
* What processes were used to ensure appropriate planning and decision-making?
- Describe a project/program that you supervised which was behind schedule, over budget, or understaffed.
Probing Questions
* What was the project/program?
* What were the factors creating the situation?
* What did you do to correct the situation?
* What were the results of your actions?
Level 4 Evaluates effective use of resources
BEHAVIORS
- Evaluates the effectiveness of resource utilization, adjusting accordingly.
- Identifies gaps in resources that impact on the organization's effectiveness.
- Develops strategies to address resource issues.
QUESTIONS
- Tell us about a time when you identified resource gaps that impacted organizational effectiveness.
Probing Questions
* What were the resource gaps?
* How did these gaps impact organizational effectiveness?
* What strategies did you develop to fill these gaps?
* How were these strategies carried out?
* To what extent did these strategies fill in the resource gaps?
- Describe a situation where you needed to report on resource utilization for a project/program.
Probing Questions
* What were the indicators to monitor?
* How did you measure the effectiveness of resource utilization?
* How did you use the information you gathered?
* What were the results of your actions (or delegated actions)?
Level 5 Sets direction for use of resources
BEHAVIORS
- Sets overall direction for how resources are to be used in order to achieve the vision, values and goals of the organization.
- Institutes organization-wide mechanisms and processes to promote and support resource management.
- Communicates priorities for the usage of resources, reinforcing through clear and consistent messages.
QUESTIONS
- Tell us about a time were priorities for the usage of resources needed to be communicated to the organization.
Probing Questions
* Why were priorities not communicated up to this point?
* How did you communicate priorities to staff?
* What message and media did you use to communicate priorities?
* What were the results of your communication?
- Describe organization-wide mechanisms and processes you have instituted to promote and support resource management.
Probing Questions
* Describe a situation where these mechanisms were utilized.
* How did you settle on these mechanisms and processes?
* How did these mechanisms reinforce priorities for the usage of resources?
* How did these mechanisms improve organizational resource management?