RAPID DACUM Brings the Table to the People

How do you get “the right people at the table” if the “right people” have limited availability and “the table” must be in person?

Easy—you bring a virtual table to the right people.

WIDS innovated the RAPID DACUM, a three-hour virtual version of the two-day, traditional DACUM to help Wisconsin Apprenticeship develop registered apprenticeships in healthcare, information technology, and transportation, despite workers’ limited availability.

An efficient method…

DACUM is the gold standard for analyzing an occupation because it is highly effective and low-cost approach—rather than the lengthy process of observing workers perform the job, WIDS facilitates a focus group of skilled workers to identify the occupation’s key duties and tasks.  

“We’ve used WIDS to facilitate DACUMs for us for over a decade,” Wisconsin Apprenticeship Senior Policy Analyst Owen Smith says.

Are you available?

With the quick pace of business today, even two days for a traditional DACUM can be too long.

“Industry experts may have limited availability,” Smith cautions.  “Foremost, they work full time.  And, varying shifts are common, especially in healthcare and transportation fields.”

And that’s under the best of circumstances

“Availability can be affected by other factors, too, like workforce shortages and travel restrictions,” and “It’s not an easy feat to have a roomful of experts agree,” Smith adds.

Travel not required

WIDS used RAPID DACUM to pivot smoothly to accommodate workers’ availability by:

• Hosting DACUMS virtually
• Drafting duties and tasks in advance, using existing trainings and DACUMS
• Using easy online tools during the meeting to modify tasks and determine consensus

The pivot proved essential.  The shorter, virtual process worked well for employers in each occupation.  

“WIDS guides experts through the DACUM efficiently,” Smith concludes.   

WIDS (Worldwide Instructional Design System) is a nonprofit organization that provides curriculum design software, consulting, and training services.