The document describes a new initiative by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to help Texas employers define job requirements and talent needs using Detailed Work Activities (DWAs). The five-step process involves employers identifying jobs, mapping jobs to certifications/courses using DWAs, getting employees to define work requirements via DWAs, receiving a customized work requirement inventory, and accessing tools to manage talent. Employers benefit through improved talent acquisition, development and performance management. The standardized DWAs provide a common language for employers and educators and help the state develop economic clusters and competitive workforce advantages.

1. Enabling Texas Employers
A TWC/LMCI Sponsored Initiative Managed by SkillsNET®. Contact TWC @ 512-837-7484 for more information
Standardized DWAs Make the Difference

2. Texas Talent Development Opportunity
ROADMAP For Success Texas Leadership Support
TWC Chairman Pauken states, "The DWA’s are
DWA Talent
The Texas Workforce Commission/Labor Market
Career Information (TWC/LMCI) now offers a
ROADMAP to Texas employers wishing to define
emerging as the preferred “unit of analysis” for
workforce development and career planning. Further,
Development Roadmap
their Talent requirements. The ROADMAP
leverages the Detailed Work Activity (DWA) review
and validation process is easy to follow and offers
the DWAs appear to have a natural alignment to
High School/College programs and Industry
Certifications. This is important because a primary
Texas employers a wealth of Talent development motive for this effort is to provide industry-validated
information. descriptors of work activities to the Texas Workforce
Commission (TWC), Texas Higher Education
Detailed Work Activities (DWA’s) are components of Coordinating Board (THECB), Texas Education
the US DOL O*NET Content Model and provide Agency (TEA) and other agencies that influence talent
employers and educators a common development."
language to define basic work
activities for over eight hundred DWAs add precision in defining performance
occupations and or jobs. The requirements and identifying talent gaps and will
State of Texas is establishing a afford FAST ROI for Talent development activities.
more robust/rich DWA list that
reflects the Talent Development needs of Texas
employers. The motivation for the State-Wide
initiative is simple - To develop Economic Cluster
capacity and position employers to maintain a
competitive market advantage.
Five Easy Steps
Texas employers are urged to take advantage of this
opportunity to improve talent planning and
productivity management via work analysis and
identification of job requirements. The five steps are:
Using DWAs to define job requirements allows
employers to identify and leverage common work
1. Identify Jobs
descriptors across one or more jobs in an economic
2. Map Jobs to Certifications and Education Courses
cluster. The example illustrates how DWA 109 has a
3. Job Incumbents Define Work Requirements
cross-cutting impact in Talent Development for the
4. Employer Receives Work Requirement Inventory
Aerospace Industry Cluster.
5. Browser-based Tools to Sustain DWA List
An inventory of DWAs for Texas employers will
improve talent acquisition, development, and
performance management efforts.
Standardized DWAs Make the Difference

3. The Talent Development Roadmap
More About the Steps
Identify Strategic Jobs Customized Talent Information
Employers have unique talent needs so the first step
In exchange for helping the State of Texas finalize the
in the ROADMAP process is to identify the jobs
DWA Talent inventory employers will receive a
strategic to that company’s performance goals.
customized list of DWAs, enabling skills, and
abilities for their organization. The DWA and
The SkillsNET® DWA technical team consults with
skills/ability inventory will aid the employer’s efforts
company leadership to target job titles that need help
to conduct performance evaluations and or develop
with talent acquisition, development, and or
individual training objectives.
performance management. There is no limit to the
number of job titles an employer may submit for
DWA analysis.
Map Jobs to Talent Support System
The SkillsNET team uses the job titles / descriptions
to identify and map the appropriate Detailed Work
Activities (DWAs), job relevant industry
certifications, TEA Career Clusters, and State-Wide
College Courses.
The data are prepared and provided to the employer Using the same DWA Talent data, the employer can
in a Microsoft® Excel Spreadsheet for further update existing job / position descriptions; prepare job
analysis. orders; and provide the job seekers a better
understanding of job requirements and expectations.
The SkillsNET technical team will help organize and
Determine Work Requirements manage the Talent assessment and training plans
The SkillsNET team and designated employer leader once the DWAs are reviewed and validated.
finalize the job list that will use the DWA inventory
to establish performance requirements. The employer
will ask one job incumbent for each job title selected Talent Optimization
to use the DWA browser based tools to review, edit,
The employer is registered and provided access to the
and add DWAs required to perform their job.
DWA Talent Development Management software.
There, the employer can keep the job requirements
The job incumbent review takes about 20-30 minutes
current. Employer having their own Talent
to establish the requirements for their job.
Management system will be provided a data load for
their use.
Standardized DWAs Make the Difference

4. Sample Roadmap Reports
Employer Jobs mapped to
US Department of Labor
O*NET Occupational
Classification System.
Jobs mapped to industry certifications and Texas College Courses.
Current DWAs that define job
requirements and a list of key
skills and abilities for training and
performance management.
Standardized DWAs Make the Difference

5. Getting Started
Contact SkillsNET or your local Workforce Solutions Office
today to start your roadmap process.
SkillsNET
Historic Old Town
310 West Jefferson Street
Waxahachie, Texas 75165
972-923-2950 x 101
Http://DWA.SKILLSNET.COM
info@skillsnet.com
Standardized DWAs Make the Difference