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51Â Â Glossary Ability: the capacity to apply knowledge and skills simultaneously to complete a task. Ability also relates to personal and social attributes, which tend to be either innate or acquired without formal instruction. Academic competency: knowledge, skill, or ability learned in an educational setting, typically Kâ12 schooling and higher education. Advanced-level construction inspector: understands and demonstrates proficiency in skills in a variety of responsibilities and performs specialized tasks with little to no supervision. An advanced-level inspector can also be a supervisor. Associate degree: a 2-year college degree typically obtained from a community college and granted after a high school diploma but before a bachelorâs degree. Bachelorâs degree: an undergraduate academic degree for which students study a subject of their choice. Career development: the process of progressing through a career process that benefits both the employee and the employer. Certification/qualification: a formal recognition that an individual has met specific require- ments within an inspection field by demonstrating proficiency in knowledge, skills, and abilities. The terms certification and qualification are used interchangeably throughout this Guide. Construction inspector: an individual whose primary responsibility is to verify that the constructed work meets standards and specifications by observing and measuring contract performance. Construction inspectors may be referred to as technicians or as another title and may also perform noninspection responsibilities. Core competency: a combination of knowledge, skills, performance behaviors, and personal attributes (e.g., knowledge, skills, and abilities) that improve employee performance and orga- nizational success. Education: the knowledge and understanding a person gains from instruction. Effectiveness competency: knowledge, skills, and abilities that represent the personal attributes of an individual. Entry-level construction inspector: a new employee with little to no previous experience in construction inspection who performs responsibilities under direct supervision. Formal training: instruction led by an instructor or facilitator that occurs at an established place and time. Includes instructor-led training in a classroom, instructor-led training with hands-on applications, and instructor-led virtual training.
52 Guide to Recruiting, Developing, and Retaining Transportation Infrastructure Construction Inspectors Inspection: the act of examining, measuring, or testing to determine a construction projectâs degree of compliance with requirements, in conformance with the design drawings and speci- fications and the contract. Instructor-led training: any in-person or online instruction conducted by facilitators. Intermediate-level construction inspector: understands and demonstrates competency in skills in one or more areas of the entry level and performs inspection responsibilities under general supervision. Internship: construction inspection position geared toward students enrolled in a transportation- related field of study (e.g., engineering, construction management, construction technology) that incorporates short-term employment, practical on-the-job experience, and exposure to the STA. Knowledge: subjects and topics representing bodies of information applied directly to the per- formance of work functions. Knowledge management: the practical, efficient, and timely transfer of knowledge from tran- sitioning employees to the entry- and intermediate-level workforce. Masterâs degree: an advanced degree completed after obtaining a bachelorâs degree focusing on a specific subject of study. Mentoring: an established education and training method for newly hired inspectors in which an experienced inspector is paired with a less-experienced inspector to advise and guide them to perform their work responsibilities. Online training: training conducted in a virtual or simulated environment, or when the learner and the instructor are in separate locations, rather than in a traditional classroom, connected through the internet. On-the-job training (OJT): training and learning obtained from experience while performing work duties. Recruitment: the process of identifying an STAâs construction inspector workforce needs, advertising open inspection positions, and hiring candidates into these positions on the basis of their educational background and previous experience. Retention rate: the share of STA employees who continue working for the agency over a speci- fied time period (retention is the inverse of employee turnover). Self-paced learning: training that does not include a facilitator or instructor. Students gain new knowledge by proceeding through materials at their own speed and schedule. Skill: a personal, professional, or technical proficiency, typically observable and measurable, that is learned through training. Technical competency: specific knowledge, skill, and ability needed to perform construction inspection responsibilities. Training: the process of providing new knowledge and skills needed to perform specific respon- sibilities and improve performance. Turnover rate: the percentage or number of individuals who leave a place of employment over a certain period (e.g., quarterly, annually). Workplace competency: general knowledge or skills needed to perform work duties.
