Interpretive Guide
combines the ability to draw on one’s own experience, knowledge and training and
effectively problem-solve increasingly difficult and complex situations. It involves breaking down problems,
tracing implications and recognizing patterns and connections that are not obviously related. It translates into
identifying underlying issues and making the best decisions at the most appropriate time. At higher levels, the
parameters upon which to base the decision become increasingly complex and ambiguous and call upon novel
ways to think through issues.
Decisive Insight
Behavioural Level
1. Responds to Situations at Face Value:
- Uses no abstract concepts in the face of
u n c e r t a i n t y o r l a c k o f i n f o r ma t i o n .
-
Requires some guidance or support to
determine if and when action is
appropriate.
2. Breaks Down Problems to Reach a
Decision:
-
B r e a k s p r o b l e ms i n t o s i mp l e l i s t s , t a s k s
o r a c t i vi t i e s w i t h o u t a s s i g n i n g va l u e s o r
priorities.
-
Uses common sense and past experiences
t o a p p r o a c h p r o b l e ms a n d m a k e a
decision.
-
A b l e t o o v e r c o m e mi n o r o b s t a c l e s a n d
s u g g e s t a c t i o n s t o ma k e a d e c i s i o n
w i t h o u t h a vi n g a l l t h e i n f o r ma t i o n .
3. Sees Patterns or Basic Relationships
or Connections when ProblemSolving:
-
Breaks apart a problem and links
together pieces with a single link.
-
Identifies alternative approaches or
a c t i o n s t o a p r o b l e m.
-
I s a b l e t o ma k e a d e c i s i o n a n d t a k e
action quickly and decisively when there
i s n o t e n o u g h i n f o r ma t i o n t o p r e d i c t t h e
consequences with certainty.
Brought to you by the
BC Public Service Agency
Interpretive Guide
Level
Observed
Did the candidate make a decision based solely on
existing facts, without confirming the completeness of
those facts? Did the candidate not break the problem
down in order to analyze it? To score at this level, the
candidate needed some guidance in order to make a
decision.
Did the candidate demonstrate an ability to recognize a
problem, and break it into specific tasks? Did the
candidate provide evidence of having made a decision
despite not having all the information? To score at this
level, the candidate thought briefly about the short term
solutions and took steps to address each task.
Did the candidate link together pieces of information to
solve the problem or break apart the problem to identify
a solution? Was the candidate able to identify simple
cause and effect relationships to understand issues or
problems? Did the candidate provide evidence of
taking decisive action quickly?
1
Interpretive Guide
4. Sees Multiple Relationships and Can
Make Effective Decisions with
Limited Information:
-
Makes multiple causal links: several
potential causes of events, several
consequences of actions, or multiple part
chains of events.
-
Analyses relationships among several
parts of a problem or situation.
-
Anticipates obstacles and thinks ahead
about next steps.
5. Makes Complex Plans or Analyses
and Reaches Effective Decisions in
Ambiguous Situations:
-
U s e s s e v e r a l a n a l yt i c a l o r c r e a t i v e
t e c h n i q u e s t o b r e a k a p a r t c o mp l e x
p r o b l e ms i n t o c o m p o n e n t p r o b l e m s o r
issues.
-
D r a w s o n c o mp l e x l e a r n e d c o n c e p t s w h e n
e x a mi n i n g p a t t e r n s o r t r e n d s a n d
recognizes underlying
i s s u e s / i mp l i c a t i o n s o f d e c i s i o n s o r
courses of action.
-
C o n s i s t e n t l y ma k e s t h e r i g h t d e c i s i o n
w h e n t h e r e a r e c o mp e t i n g a n d a mb i g u o u s
priorities.
Brought to you by the
BC Public Service Agency
Did the candidate take the time to analyze the problem
and what led up to the situation? Did the candidate
look at the problem by breaking it down and
determining causal links between the pieces? Did the
candidate think of the consequences of actions and
anticipate any obstacles? Did the candidate examine
the present information in order to consider if any
critical pieces were missing? To score at this level, the
candidate not only thought about the problem and its
immediate impact but also thought about the possible
options and obstacles as well as considering that some
information might be missing.
Did the candidate use several tools or techniques to
analyze the situation, and identify the relationships?
Did the candidate think about the possible impact about
each part of the problem and how it would impact other
issue? Was the candidate able to deal with complex
issues and maneuver adroitly through large amounts of
data? To score at this level, the candidate has to be able
to identify what other problems may be involved in the
situation and must demonstrate that despite the
ambiguity of the problem, an appropriate decision was
made.
2