I really would not call it a "Test".  It is more of a self-evaluation 
where you judge and rate yourself based on the criteria provided in an 
expansive list of six "Domains" consisting of the following areas: 
Business Functions, RIM Practices, Risk Management, Communications & 
Marketing, Information Technology and Leadership. 

You select what Level of experience you feel that you have for each of the 
domains from a Level 1 up to a Level 4.   You go into each of these 
domains at the level you selected where there are a series of 
statements/questions associated with the subject of that domain.  You rate 
your proficiency on how well you know that subject or have experience 
dealing with that issue on a score of 0-5. 

When you have finished rating yourself on all domains, then you perform a 
"Gap Analysis".  This analysis shows you where you are very strong to 
where you are very weak in knowledge/experience.  For each 
statement/question that you rated your competencies on, there is a link to 
a set of resources that you can use to increase your knowledge/proficiency 
in that area. 

The next step is for you to create your own Professional Development Plan. 
 There is a link to create this plan which walks you through steps to 
create it.  It asks you to identify your strengths and those areas where 
you need to develop.  It asks you to look for common themes or if there is 
a critical need that stands out.  Then based on your analysis of 
strengths, areas of need, and career goals, you are asked to prioritize 
three areas of competencies that you need to develop.

Then you are asked to review these based on your current job description 
and prioritize those areas to develop based on what are the most urgent 
tasks you face in your current job - what you need to develop now in order 
to accomplish your current assignment and what you need to focus on to 
develop say within the next year to improve your skills to contribute to 
your company's strategic goals. 

Using the resources provided in your Gap Analysis, you are asked to 
develop a strategy or plan of action.  You are asked to list those areas 
that you want to work on, what action will you take to improve your 
proficiency in those areas, how you will measure your results, establish 
target dates for starting and completing tasks, what obstacles you may 
encounter that would hinder your plan of  action and identify solutions to 
overcome those obstacles and evaluate your progress.

I found the Self-Assessment quite valuable.  It does require you to be 
self-motivated to complete the entire process.  No one else is going to do 
this for you.  If you want to improve your knowledge and proficiency, you 
have to work for it!

The thing that I found frustrating was that the resources section is still 
weak in some areas.  For some areas, there are no resources listed at all. 
 For other areas the only resource listed may be attending a class on the 
subject at the yearly ARMA International Conference.  You cannot guarantee 
that class will be offered at every conference.  For other areas there may 
be listed one article that appeared in a past issue of the Information 
Management Journal.  So, you have to be creative and do your own research 
to find other resources if you want to truly improve your knowledge in 
specific areas.

I think it is a great step in the right direction for RIM professionals as 
it does provide you with a tool to evaluate your competencies and 
highlight those areas you need to work on.    What you get out of it will 
be what you put in to it.

Fred Walden
Bechtel SAIC
Las Vegas, NV
702-821-7159
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