Qualification Standard for Policy Analysis and
Administrative Analysis Positions
The text below is extracted verbatim from
Section IV-A (pp.33-34) of the Operating Manual for Qualification Standards for
General Schedule Positions [MANUAL], but contains minor edits to
conform to web-page requirements.
Policy analysis positions
The requirements for individual policy analysis positions will
differ, depending on their grade level and their organizational
location. Factors such as the perspectives of top policy officials
and sensitivity to organizational mission and objectives influence
the nature of the responsibilities placed on a policy analyst. The
principal requirements for performing policy analysis functions are
listed below, as appropriate to the position to be filled.
- Knowledge of a pertinent professional subject-matter field(s).
Typically there is a direct, even critical, relationship
between the possession of subject-matter expertise and
successful performance of analytical assignments.
- Knowledge of economic theories including micro-economics and
the effect of proposed policies on production costs and
prices, wages, resource allocations, or consumer behavior;
and/or macro-economics and the effect of proposed policies on
income and employment, investment, interest rates, and price
level.
- Knowledge of public policy issues related to a subject-matter
field.
- Knowledge of the executive/legislative decision making process.
- Knowledge of pertinent research and analytical methodology and
ability to apply such techniques to policy issues, such as:
- Qualitative techniques, such as performing extensive
inquiry into a wide variety of significant issues,
problems, or proposals; determining data sources and
relevance of findings and synthesizing information;
evaluating tentative study findings and drawing logical
conclusions; and identifying omissions, questionable
assumptions, or inadequate data in the analytical work of
others.
- Quantitative methods, such as cost benefit analysis,
design of computer simulation models and statistical
analysis including survey methods and regression analysis.
- Knowledge of the programs or organizations and activities to
assess the political and institutional environment in which
decisions are made and implemented.
- Skill in dealing with decision makers and their immediate
staffs. Skill in interacting with other specialists and
experts in the same or related fields.
- Ability to exercise judgment in all phases of analysis,
ranging from sorting out the most important problems when
dealing with voluminous amounts of information to ensure that
the many facets of a policy issue are explored, to sifting
evidence and developing feasible options or alternative
proposals and anticipating policy consequences.
- Skill in effectively communicating highly complex technical
material or highly complex issues that may have controversial
findings, or both, using language appropriate to specialists
and/or nonspecialists, facilitating the formulation of a decision.
- Skill in written communication to organize ideas and present findings
in a logical manner with supporting, as well as adverse, criteria for
specific issues, and to prepare material complicated by short deadlines
and limited information.
- Skill in effective oral communication techniques to explain,
justify, or discuss a variety of public issues requiring a logical
presentation of appropriate facts and information or analysis.
- Ability to work effectively under the pressure of tight time frames and
rigid deadlines.
Generally, candidate evaluation is based primarily on relevant academic
achievement and/or experience. When evaluating a candidate's academic performance,
agencies should determine the extent to which completed course work has contributed
to a knowledge of policy analysis methods, microeconomic and macro-economic
theories, social sciences, statistics, operations research, organizational theory,
public finance, logic, or other
subject-matter knowledge required to perform the work of the position.
Consideration should be given for active involvement in policy
analysis organizations, presentation of technical papers, and
participation in seminars. Technical publications should be weighed
for their contributions to advancing policy in particular areas
rather than on quantity.
Other sources of information that may be useful in evaluating
candidates include: work products, e.g., reports, studies,
articles, letters, and memoranda; reference inquiries; supervisory
appraisals; personal interviews; and results of assessment center
activities.
Administrative analysis positions
Administrative analysis work does not require specialized subject-matter knowledge, but does require other knowledge and skill to
perform staff analytical, planning, and evaluative work concerned
with the administrative and operational aspects of agency programs
and management. Specifically, administrative analysis work
requires:
- Knowledge of the overall mission, functions, and organization
of the agency or component, including agency program operations,
processes, goals, and objectives.
- Knowledge of the theories, principles, functions, and
processes of management and the organization of work to
conduct studies of work processes in various organizations to
identify, analyze, and recommend solutions to problems or to
develop planning guidance.
- Knowledge of evaluative, planning, and analytical processes
and techniques (quantitative and qualitative) for measuring
the effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of
administrative and technical programs.
- Ability to research problems and issues, including evaluating
the content of new or modified legislation to determine its
impact on the agency's programs or resources.
- Skill in written and oral communication to prepare briefings
or recommendations to managers and negotiating solutions to
disputed recommendations.
- Judgment in problem solving.
Candidate evaluation is based on a combination of relevant academic
courses and experience. When evaluating a candidate's academic
performance, agencies should determine the extent to which
completed course work has contributed to a knowledge of management
and analytical methods, statistics, organizational theory, public
finance, logic or other knowledge required to perform the work of
the position.
Consideration should be given for active involvement in public
administration organizations, presentation of papers, and
participation in seminars.
Other sources of information that may be useful in evaluating
candidates include work products, e.g., reports, studies, articles,
letters, and memoranda; reference inquiries; supervisory
appraisals; personal interviews; and results of assessment center
activities.
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