Module 2:

Writing Assessments

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-1

Writing Assessments
 Module 2 Objectives

After completing this module you will be able to:

• Explain why assessments are important to successful
performance.
• List key questions that any assessment should answer.
• Describe two approaches to writing assessments using
the models ORCA and SCRAM.
• Distinguish and describe levels of performance when
writing assessments.
• Write effective assessments.

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-2

Writing Assessments
 Lesson 1:
The Importance of Assessments
 Lesson Objectives

After completing this lesson you will be able to:

• Explain why assessments are important to
successful performance.
• Describe the steps to take before writing
assessments.

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-4

Writing Assessments
 Activity: Rate the Performance

• Step 1: Review the job objectives and underline words or

phrases that use the language of the related
Performance Indicators.
• Step 2: Review the appropriate Contributing Factors so
you know what words to look for in the self-
assessment and evaluation.
• Step 3: Read the self-assessment and evaluation to
determine a rating for these job objectives.
• Step 4: Discuss your results and observations.

ACTIVITY
From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-5
Writing Assessments
 The Importance of Assessments

Managing
Performance

Rewarding
Performance

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-6

Writing Assessments
 Key Questions Your Self-Assessment
Must Answer

• What did I need to achieve with my work?

• How well did I achieve my goals?
• How did my achievements help my organization?
• What behaviors did I exhibit while achieving my goals?
• What special circumstances made my accomplishments
more significant?

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-7

Writing Assessments
 Thinking About Self-Assessments

• Highlight your most significant achievements.

• Do the accomplishments:
− Link to the stated job objectives?
− Include references to the appropriate Performance Indicators?
− Reflect the selected Contributing Factors?

• Make the connection between WHAT you did and WHY

that should matter to your organization.
• Note challenges you faced and how you fared.
• Include additional accomplishments that were achieved.
From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-8
Writing Assessments
 Lesson Review

• Assessments are narrative descriptions of employee

accomplishments relative to their job objectives, Performance
Indicators, associated Contributing Factors, and
organizational mission and goals.
• Assessments need to be clearly written so others, such as the
pay pool panel, can easily understand the employee’s
contribution.
• Preparation is essential for writing effective assessments.
• An effective assessment answers key questions for the
reader.

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-9

Writing Assessments
 Questions

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-10

Writing Assessments
 Lesson 2:
The ORCA Approach
 Lesson Objectives

After completing this lesson you will be able to:

• Use a model to structure your thinking process
before writing.
• Explain what ORCA means.
• Identify each of the ORCA elements in writing
assessments.

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-12

Writing Assessments
 ORCA Elements

Objective
O

R Results

Contribution
C
Added Value
A

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-13

Writing Assessments
 Activity: Identify ORCA in
Assessments

• Read the following two sample job objectives to

determine if they have all of the ORCA elements.
• Mark the Objectives with an “O,” Results with a “R,”
Contribution with an “C,” and Added Value with an “A.”
• Underline any words that describe Performance
Indicators.
• Add whatever you think is missing.

ACTIVITY
From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-14
Writing Assessments
 Lesson Review

• A model or framework structures the thinking process

before writing assessments.
• One approach is ORCA.
• Each element in ORCA is important and needs to be
addressed in every job objective.
• ORCA stands for Objective, Results, Contribution, Added
Value.

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-15

Writing Assessments
 Questions

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-16

Writing Assessments
 Lesson 3:
The SCRAM Approach
 Lesson Objectives

After completing this lesson you will be able to:

• Explain what SCRAM means.
• Identify each of the SCRAM elements in
assessments.

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-18

Writing Assessments
 SCRAM Elements

Situation
S

C Challenge

Results
R
Actions
A

M Measurements

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-19

Writing Assessments
 Activity: Identify SCRAM in Assessments

• Read the following job objective and self-assessment.

• Identify words or phrases that fit with the requirements
for S, C, R, A, M.
• Write those words or phrases in the appropriate box.
• Follow the same procedure for the Contributing Factor.

ACTIVITY
From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-20
Writing Assessments
 Lesson Review

• SCRAM is another model to structure your thinking before you write.

• Situation - Why was I assigned this job objective?
• Challenge - What challenges did I face when accomplishing this job
objective and how did I overcome them?
• Results - What measurable results show what I accomplished?
• Actions - How did I influence the outcome?
• Measurements - How did I perform against each specific measure in
my job objective?

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-21

Writing Assessments
 Questions

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-22

Writing Assessments
 Lesson 4:
Levels of Performance
 Lesson Objectives

After completing this lesson you will be able to:

• Explain how to use Performance Indicators when
writing your assessments.
• Describe how to write about the Contributing
Factor(s) that were selected for each of your job
objectives.

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-24

Writing Assessments
 Performance Indicators

• Descriptions of levels of employee performance that are

standardized across DoD and applied when rating the
accomplishments of job objectives.
• Descriptions of what is expected of all employees by pay
schedule and pay band
• Tool for establishing, measuring, evaluating, and rating
job objectives.

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-25

Writing Assessments
 Activity: Using Performance
Indicators

• Step 1: Identify and underline the words in the sample

Performance Indicators that differentiate levels
3 and 5 performance.
• Step 2: Analyze two self-assessments and add words to
each that reflect Performance Indicators.

ACTIVITY
From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-26
Writing Assessments
 Contributing Factors

• Describe “how” job objectives Communication

should be achieved.
Cooperation and Teamwork
• Are attributes of job performance
significant to the accomplishment Critical Thinking
of individual job objectives.
Customer Focus
• Define the “expected” and
“enhanced” behavior.
Leadership
• Are specific to each pay schedule
and pay band. Resource Management

• Are standard across DoD. Technical Proficiency

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-27

Writing Assessments
 Activity: Selecting Contributing Factor
Benchmarks

• Step 1: Identify and underline the words in the sample

Contributing Factor that are added to differentiate
“expected” from “enhanced.”
• Step 2: Analyze the self-assessment and underline the
words that identify benchmark descriptors.

ACTIVITY
From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-28
Writing Assessments
 Lesson Review

• Performance Indicators provide standardized descriptions

that help you identify the appropriate level of performance
for each pay schedule and pay band.
• Performance Indicators are guidelines for rating
performance at the end of the performance period.
• Contributing Factors provide standardized descriptions
that help you identify the significant attributes of job
performance.
• Assessments are strengthened when your achievements
are explained in relation to Performance Indicators and
Contributing Factors.

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-29

Writing Assessments
 Questions

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-30

Writing Assessments
 Lesson 5:
Assessment Practice
 Lesson Objectives

After completing this lesson you will be able to:

• Write a self-assessment using either the ORCA or
SCRAM model.

• Identify critical components of effective self-

assessments.

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-32

Writing Assessments
 Activity: Write a Self-Assessment

• Use one of your own job objectives.

• Choose either the ORCA or SCRAM model to write a
draft self-assessment.
• Remember that the purpose is to describe what you
accomplished during the performance period and how
these results benefited your organization.
• It is not a style or composition competition.

ACTIVITY
From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-33
Writing Assessments
 Activity: Discussion about Writing
Assessments

• What was difficult?

• What helped?
• What was particularly helpful if you used ORCA?
• What was particularly helpful if you used SCRAM?
• What lessons did you learn?

ACTIVITY
From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-34
Writing Assessments
 Lesson Review

• Assessments are a tool to document accomplishments. Self-

assessments are voluntary, but highly recommended.
• They are used in the evaluation process.
• Performance Indicators and Contributing Factors are important
to address when writing assessments.
• Effective self-assessments first state how you met all of the
requirements of each job objective at level 3 performance
before adding statements that show how you went beyond.
• ORCA or SCRAM are two models that help you write complete
assessments.

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-35

Writing Assessments
 Questions

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-36

Writing Assessments
 Module Evaluation

• Please complete the module evaluation and turn it in

today.
• Provide an honest assessment of module materials and
your facilitator.
• Evaluation provides feedback on course effectiveness.

Thank you for participating!

From Expectations to Accomplishment Slide 2-37

Writing Assessments