new competencies and
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Framework of Competencies

Common frameworks of competencies: assistance

Technical fields of activity for the assistance function

Competencies			Knowledge & Skills
	Professional Competencies		Technnical Skill Requirements
	Personal Competencies		Interpersonal Skill Requirements
			Specific Knowledge

Technical fields of activity
Using the management cycle approach, the following "technical" fields of activity for the assistance function were identified:
Monitoring	Activities, status and developments are tracked in order to identify deviations from the intended results in good time. This is the basis for corrective actions.
Analysis	Analysing a problem reveals the root causes of deviations.
(Re-)Design	In this phase the measures to reach the defined goals are planned.
Evaluation & Review	Alternatives are evaluated to choose the best one. This shows that all former activities in the process are of use in the systematic preparation of a decision to be made; this is the main characteristic of the assistance function.
Implementation	During the implementation phase the measures decided are carried out. This is mainly one of the duties of the logistics line managers, but it is often accompanied and intensively supported by logistical assistance jobs.

Due to the nature of the assistance function - support of managers - it is obvious that these "primary" duties must be accompanied by intensive communication and negotiation processes as well as reporting activities, leading to the two transversal fields of activities:
Communication & Negotiation	Communication takes place not only between the assistant and the manager, but also from the assistant to other employees in other company departments or even with other companies (suppliers, providers, customers) on the same, a lower or even a higher management level. This is especially due to the nature of logistics as a cross-functional management approach. Therefore, cooperation in- and outside the company is an important element not only for assistance jobs in general but for logistics assistance jobs in particular.
Reporting	Normally, reporting activities will provide the information required from the respective logistics managers. It may supply the results of a problem to be solved or early signals of new, upcoming problems.