The skill taxonomy is a structured framework designed to organize and categorize all the skills relevant to a company. Think of it as a comprehensive repository, akin to a Lego box, where every skill necessary for the organization is systematically stored and accessible.
Hierarchy of the skill taxonomy
The skill taxonomy is organized into three distinct hierarchical levels:
Skills: This is the topmost level. Skills correspond most closely to what you would colloquially think of as skills and typically put on a resume or LinkedIn profile (e.g., Microsoft Excel or Agile Project Management). These are the overarching abilities or expertise areas that define a person's skill set.
Chapters: Each skill is broken down into chapters, which represent the individual components or aspects of a skill. Chapters are designed to encapsulate the essential elements one needs to learn or understand to master a particular skill.
Atoms: At the most granular level, atoms are the smallest units of a skill, each associated with a specific chapter. They represent detailed, specific knowledge areas within a chapter.
Example of skill taxonomy
To illustrate the concept, here is a small excerpt from a taxonomy that defines the skill "Microsoft Excel":
Skill: Microsoft Excel
Chapter: Creating diagrams in Microsoft Excel
Atom: Creating a bar chart
Atom: Editing chart axes
...
Chapter: Applying formulas in Microsoft Excel
Atom: Using the SUM formula
Atom: Using the VLOOKUP formula
...
...
How are skills, learning materials and learning paths related?
One or more learning materials can be attached to an atom (e.g., an introductory text, an explanatory video, and an exercise). To distribute these to learners, atoms are put together into adaptive learning paths (= modular courses that can be personalized for each learner).
Atoms from different skills can be combined in any way. For example, an adaptive learning path for new managers could contain atoms addressing leadership styles as well as project management.
Benefits of using a skill taxonomy
Organized skill management: Provides a clear language and structure for managing, categorizing and working with skills within an organization.
Adaptive learning paths: Facilitates the creation of adaptive learning paths that are tailored to individual needs. This requires a three-level hierarchy including atoms.
Comprehensive skill profiles: Enables the development of detailed skill profiles for employees, aiding in personal development and career planning. Only the top two levels — skills and chapters — are necessary for this purpose.