Interpretive Guide
Business Acumen
is the ability to understand the business implications of decisions and the ability to
strive to improve organizational performance. It requires an awareness of business issues, processes and
outcomes as they impact the client’s and the organization’s business needs.
Behavioural Level
1. Understands Business Fundamentals:
-
A n a l y z e s a n d c o mp r e h e n d s w o r k - u n i t
goals and strategies.
Understands practical business functions
in the organizational environment and
incorporates them into decision -making.
2. Aligns Current Actions with
Organization Goals:
-
Develops work plans that prioritize work
in alignment with business goals.
Acts in accordance with established
organization objectives or goals.
3. Thinks and Plans in Future-Oriented
Terms:
-
-
Develops annual service plans that take
i n t o a c c o u n t l o n g e r - t e r m a c t i vi t i e s ,
issues, problems or opportunities.
Develops and establishes broad scale ,
longer-term objectives, goals, or projects
(e.g., affecting a business, department,
or organization).
4. Takes Actions to Fit Service Plan:
-
-
-
Assesses and links short -term tasks in
the context of long-term business
strategies or perspectives.
Reviews own actions against the
organization’s strategic plan; includes
the big picture when considering
possible opportunities or projects or
thinks about long-term applications of
c u r r e n t a c t i vi t i e s .
Anticipates possible responses to
different initiatives.
Understands the projected direction of
the business and political environment
a n d h o w c h a n g e s mi g h t i mp a c t t h e
organization.
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Interpretive Guide
Level
Observed
Did the candidate understand how to solve basic
business issues immediately? e.g., keeping the
client/customer satisfied, controlling costs. Was the
candidate able to demonstrate a basic understanding of
business in solving immediate problems? Did the
candidate demonstrate an understanding of the goals of
their work unit?
Did the candidate set daily work goals that were
explicitly matched with organizational goals,
departmental or other externally set goals? Was work
prioritized to meet these goals?
Did the candidate demonstrate that he/she set their own
annual service plan? Was the candidate thinking
further down the road than just weekly or monthly?
Were goals or objectives set with a broad view of the
organization and/or other departments?
Did the candidate provide evidence for having assessed
their activities with regard to organizational goals?
Did the candidate demonstrate an ability to assess the
links between shorter-term projects and long-term
organizational goals or strategy? To score at this level,
the candidate should have set long-term goals and
objectives that were consistent with the strategic
direction of the organization and the relevant service
plan, and then ensured day-to-day activities were
conducted in order to meet them.
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