Soft Skills – The Other Soft Skills – The Other ShoeShoe

““The day of considering quality and teamwork as The day of considering quality and teamwork as special has passed. Not because they aren’t special has passed. Not because they aren’t

important, but because the bar has been raised important, but because the bar has been raised to the point where we feel they’re mandatory. to the point where we feel they’re mandatory. We don’t even consider hiring someone who We don’t even consider hiring someone who

can’t exhibit these skills. It’s like getting your can’t exhibit these skills. It’s like getting your measles shot before school.”measles shot before school.”

- Patricia Murray- Patricia Murray

Corporate VP for HRCorporate VP for HR

Intel CorpIntel Corp

What Are “Soft” Skills, What Are “Soft” Skills, Anyway?Anyway?

Enhance employabilityEnhance employability Enhance advancementEnhance advancement Non-technicalNon-technical Universally applicableUniversally applicable Relate to OTKSRelate to OTKS

“Technical Skills will get you the interview, but it’s the soft skills that get you the job”

- Heard repeatedly inIndustry Focus Groups

What Industry Says What Industry Says Able to Work In TeamsAble to Work In Teams Able to Take and Give DirectionAble to Take and Give Direction Customer FocusCustomer Focus Able to Communicate in WritingAble to Communicate in Writing Able to Communicate by SpeechAble to Communicate by Speech Able to quantify and relate mathematicallyAble to quantify and relate mathematically Able to analyze, prioritize, evaluateAble to analyze, prioritize, evaluate

((sometimes called “Critical Thinking”)sometimes called “Critical Thinking”) Sensitive to other points of view, other Sensitive to other points of view, other

cultures, gender, ethnicity.cultures, gender, ethnicity. ResourcefulResourceful Able to Solve New ProblemsAble to Solve New Problems

Some IssuesSome Issues

Education versus TrainingEducation versus Training ““I’ll know it when I see it.”I’ll know it when I see it.” Can we measure it?Can we measure it? ““Why do I have to learn this?”Why do I have to learn this?”

“You have to recognize you’re doing this work for others - it’s not an end in itself. We want a long term relationship with the client. We need to work together to ensure meaningful feedback. It’s arrogant and foolish to do otherwise.”

- Edge Knowlin, IBM

Implications for Implications for CurriculumCurriculum

Build upon a technical coreBuild upon a technical core Integrate soft and technical skillsIntegrate soft and technical skills Provide opportunities for integrated Provide opportunities for integrated

learninglearning Let students see benefitsLet students see benefits Skill Standards can point the waySkill Standards can point the way Integrate related disciplinesIntegrate related disciplines Make meaning - soft skills are not the Make meaning - soft skills are not the

ball, they’re the whole ball game!ball, they’re the whole ball game!

Implications for Implications for AssessmentAssessment

Open to a range of assessmentsOpen to a range of assessments– Based on learning stylesBased on learning styles– Based on integration of outcomesBased on integration of outcomes– Involving peersInvolving peers– Involving industryInvolving industry– Using activitiesUsing activities– Authentic, integrating normative and Authentic, integrating normative and

criterion referencescriterion references“The only practical goal of any organization is improvement.”

- Phillip Crosby, ITT

What do we really want?What do we really want?Business and Education Should Business and Education Should

Be on the Same PageBe on the Same Page

"There is only one valid definition of business purpose: to create a customer. “

- Peter Drucker