Agency Professional Development Philosophy

Employees' professional development is a shared responsibility. In order to design a successful career, each employee needs to take personal responsibility to create a plan and initiate actions that will lead them to their goals. NASA and the nation benefit when all employees are able to develop their potential and make greater contributions. To optimize current and future employee contributions, supervisors and managers must be actively involved with their employees in developing their career plan. This involvement includes periodic assessments of each employee's knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences. This assessment then leads to developmental planning for work assignments and training that promote NASA and the employee's goals.

Professional development for an individual will contribute to improved performance. The purpose of professional development is to enhance current performance and enable individuals to take advantage of future opportunities. Professional development cannot be directly associated with a promotion or increased pay.

Senior managers and subject matter experts in each professional discipline will guide and shape the scope and content of professional development for that discipline.

Managers and subject matter experts are especially qualified to determine the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences required for success at each stage of an individual's professional growth. These managers and experts are also well positioned to anticipate changing work force requirements and associated developmental needs.

Personnel in similar disciplines will share tools and approaches and be "universally assignable" across the Agency. Common tools and approaches will improve efficiency, decrease turnaround times, reduce down time, improve customer service and cut costs. For example, NASA should be able to expect project managers to understand and have experienced the same tools and language at their installation as they would if they were to work on a similar project in another installation.

Information concerning professional developmental processes will be available to all employees. Information provided to NASA employees is available to help them identify options and develop plans to realize their professional development goals.

Employees should anticipate what is required to develop in their current development paths or to bridge to different ones. Employees will have access to professional development path information to assist them in understanding the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences required to advance within or between disciplines.

Employees must:

• Assess their aptitudes strengths, and developmental needs with their supervisor.
• Determine what they want their career to be.
• Work with their supervisor to develop an Individual Development Plan (IDP) that supports both the current job and longer-term professional goals.
• Work with their supervisors to schedule appropriate on-the-job training, required complementary formal training, and development activities.

Managers must:

• Support the development and training of their subordinates.
• Determine the job-related knowledge, skills, abilities and experiences employees need to effectively accomplish the work of the organization.
• Counsel, coach and guide employees in their professional development planning.
• Help the employee define the short- and long-term development and training needs.

Organizations must:

• Assure an organizational structure exists that supports the required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience development of its employees.
• Provide resource dollars and time for development to occur.

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