Benchmark your capabilities: a case study

The ability to benchmark the level of your communication expertise begins by looking at your capabilities in relation to your experience. In this step, we’ll look at a fictional case study to help you do this. In the previous step, we looked at international qualifications frameworks and how these can be aligned to levels of work.You were also asked to consider whether your own qualifications matched your work experience (or – if you don’t hold formal qualifications – what level of work you think you’re currently operating at).Over the next few steps, we’ll look at ways to benchmark, demonstrate and evidence your own capabilities in communication.To get the most out of this exercise as an independent, critical and self-reflective learner, you’re encouraged to draw on your own experiences.However, if you’re uncomfortable doing this, you can also reflect on some examples based on the following case study.

Meet Faz

Faz is an IT Delivery Manager at a large organisation. The organisation has a number of different business units operating from geographically-dispersed locations.In their role, Faz’s primary responsibilities include managing digital projects and communicating status updates with internal teams and management.Faz frequently manages stakeholder expectations while ensuring their team is sufficiently resourced to deliver multiple digital projects. This requires them to give instructions and recommendations on complex projects, often within high-pressure situations.They also regularly promote information sharing, using a range of digital and non-digital modes including email communications, meetings, and web-based collaboration and messaging tools.Faz has been in the role for 18 months and previously worked as a Senior Digital Producer at a digital agency for three years.

Your task

Based on the Deakin Professional Practice Level Indicators guide, what level of experience, including autonomy, influence and complexity do you think Faz is currently working at and why?Discuss your thoughts and observations in the comments.