DACUM Process

Engr. Sanyog Bhattarai

Faculty Specialist
Colombo Plan Staff College
Presentation Outline

DACUM Concept

Curriculum Development Process

DACUM Workshop

DACUM Chart/Profile

DACUM Application

Conclusion
 What is DACUM ?

A acronym for Develop A

CurriculUM

It’s a highly effective, quick,

.
and
low cost method to
conduct a job, occupational,
process, and functional
analysis.
 DACUM Addresses the GAP!

GAP

Educational Real World

World (TVET)

Source: https://school.iqdoodle.com/
 DACUM Principles

DACUM is based upon three principles (Norton, 1997):

• Expert workers can describe and define their occupation/job
more accurately than anyone else
• An effective way to define a job/occupation is to describe the
tasks workers perform
• All tasks, in order to be performed correctly demand the use of
certain knowledge, tools, equipment, and positive workers
behaviors.
Source: Norton, R.E. (1997). DACUM handbook. (2nd ed). Columbus: Center on Education and Training for Employment
 Concepts of Occupation/Job, Duty, Task,
and Step
Occupation/Job: a person's usual or
principal work or business, especially as
a means of earning a living;
Duty: Duties are responsibilities of an
occupation. A duty is a general
statement of tasks;
Task: specific, observable units of work;
Step: detailed procedural like activity Source: Smith, C. (2018). Retrieved from:
https://www.careerplug.com/blog/how-to-use-the-
required to perform a task. dacum-method-to-organize-and-write-your-training-
curriculum/
( There are 6 to 14 duties per job and 6 to 30 tasks in each duty)
 Elaborative Definitions of Duty and Tasks
Duty
• Describe a large area of work in performance terms
• Serve as a title for a cluster of related tasks
• Is general, not specific, statement of work that is performed
Task
• Has a definite start and end
• Is observable and measurable
• Has more than two steps
• Outcome can be a product, service or decision
• Has a single action verb
Examples- Job, Duty, Task, Step

Occupation/ Driver Gardner Cook

job
Duty Maintain Maintain the Prepare salads
Private Vehicle yard
Task Check tire air Mow the lawn Prepare Russian
pressure salad
Step Locate the air Start the Mix all
valve mower ingredients
Curriculum Development Process

Training Needs Occupational Task Verification

Analysis (TNA) Analysis ( Obtain Rating on
( Identify ( Conduct DACUM Difficulty, Importance,
Occupation) Workshop) Frequency)

Task Analysis
Curriculum Materials Competency Profile (Analyze Tasks for Steps,
( Handouts, Lesson Plan, ( Clustered Related Tasks to Knowledge Required,
Visuals) Form Competencies) Safety, Performance
Criteria)
 Conduct a DACUM Workshop

Source: Norton, R. E. (1997). DACUM handbook. (2nd ed). Columbus: Center on Education and Training for Employment
 Prerequisites to Conduct a DACUM
Workshop
• A trained and certified DACUM facilitator
• Expert workers
• A recorder
• Observers
• A long wall without any door or window
• Meta cards and other logistics
• Clear Concepts of Occupation, Duty, Task,
and Step
• Familiar with a DACUM Chart
 DACUM Facilitator, Expert Workers,
Observers, & Recorder Roles

• Neutral facilitation • Sharing ideas • Listen carefully to • Listen carefully

• Contributing as the panel’s to the panel’s
• Encouraging full
equally as possible interaction interaction
participation from
expert workers • Listening to other • Record ideas • Remain
panel members quickly, neatly, uninvolved but
• Managing time,
• Contributing to the legibly and as attentive
allowing enough
ideas of others stated • Contribute only
time for participants
to explain • Limiting value • Offer examples or when and if
judgment alternates, but the facilitator
• Adhering to the
panel has final requests
DACUM process
say
DACUM Expert
Facilitator workers Recorder Observer
Workshop Ground Rules

• Rank and seniority are left at the door

• Everyone participates equally
• One person speaks at a time
• Be positive & optimistic
• Ask each expert to provide tasks
• Add to other participants ideas
• Observers cannot participate
• Consider all task statements carefully
 Traits of a DACUM Facilitator

• Is an expert in the DACUM process

• Guides the expert workers
• Questions each task statement
• Gains group consensus on each item
• Doesn’t need to know about the job being analyzed
• Exhibits stamina, good memory, and a positive
attitude
• Persuades experts to actively participate
• Verifies appropriate verbs, qualifiers, and objects.
 Probable Questions

• What do you do at work?

• What did you do last week?
• What else do you have to do?
• What do you do first each day?
• How often is that task performed?
• How difficult is it to perform?
• What other duties do successful workers perform?
• Have we specified all the task appropriate to this area?
• Is that the terminology commonly used by other workers?
 Room Requirements

Source: Norton, R. E. (1997).

DACUM handbook. (2nd ed).
Columbus: Center on Education
and Training for Employment
Other Logistics

• Meta Cards: easy to move, replace, group,

and prioritize
• Flip Charts: easy to record ideas
• Markers: with different colors

Option:
DACUM can be conducted Technology
based
Conduct a DACUM Workshop
• Identifies and invites expert workers
• Prepare workshop materials
Preparation • Confirm the venue and manage workshop settings
• Review DACUM chart, if available
• Manage opening and closing program

• Welcome and conduct introductory activities

• Provide ground rules
Implementation • Provide overview of DACUM occupational analysis
• Define occupation, duty, task, step and display definitions on wall to refer
• Ask open ended questions and allow to brainstorm
• Record and display duties, tasks, necessary knowledge, workers traits, tools
and equipment, entry criteria, future trends

• Collect meta cards as sequenced from the wall and do not mix it
• Collect flip and other charts where necessary knowledge, tools &
equipment, workers traits, future trends are written
Post workshop • Prepare a DACUM chart based on the inputs of expert workers
• Send letter of appreciations to the expert workers and observers
• Start preparation of tasks validation workshop
Example DACUM Chart for Service
Manager

Source: https://www.rvda.org/App_Themes/RVDAMercury/docs/Compiled%20DACUM%20Charts.pdf
 Example DACUM Chart for Service
Manager Contd.
This chart further expands on the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and materials needed to perform the duties and tasks
of a service manager.
General Knowledge and Skills Organizational skills, Communication skills, Time management skills,
Anger management, Problem solving skills, Training skills, Personnel
management skills, Team building skills
Tools, Equipment, Supplies and Computer, Test equipment, Telephone, Fax, Software, Printer, Photo
Materials copier, Calculator

Workers Behaviors Patient, Diplomatic, Common sense, Empathetic, Ethical, Courteous,

Detail-oriented, Sense of humor, Trustworthy, Professional
Future Trends and Concerns Shortage of technicians, Increased customer base, Increased
dependency on technology, Increased product complexity, Higher fuel
costs, Higher interest rates, Higher health care costs

Source: https://www.rvda.org/App_Themes/RVDAMercury/docs/Compiled%20DACUM%20Charts.pdf
Application of DACUM

CTEVT/NSTB Nepal uses the

DACUM process to develop
National Competency Standards
and Curricula

National Competency
Standards

Curriculum Skill Assessment

Training
Role of Industries/Employers in the
DACUM Process
Following are the role of industries/Employers in the DACUM process:

• Send expert workers in the DACUM workshop

• Participate in the DACUM verification workshop
• Be a member in a sector skill council
• Notify demand driven occupations and new skills requirements to the TVET
authority
• Participate in the curriculum revision workshop
• Form a network among industries to get update on emerging occupations and
need of curriculum revision
 Conclusion

When TVET institutions are going a develop a curriculum or revise or integrate other
components, think and use DACUM process as it is:

• Quick, easy, and reliable

• DACUM is internationally recognized and proven method for occupational analysis
• Many TVET curricula were already developed using DACUM process
• DACUM output can be used for development of job description, determine training needs,
designing performance evaluation, for new supervisors/managers’ to understand what
their employees do on the job.