Identify the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other attributes (KSAO) needed to perform each task successfully for the job as college professors.

Knowledge is a body of information, usually of a factual or procedural nature, that makes for the successful performance of a task. Skill is an individuals level of proficiency or competency in performing a specific task. Ability is a more general, enduring trait or capability an individual possesses at the time he/she first begins to perform a task. Other Attributes include personality traits and other individual characteristics that are an important part of job performance (e.g., being bilingual).

For example, KSAOs for a meeting planner include knowledge of vendor pricing structures and policies to evaluate bids, the skill to type 40 words per minute without error, the ability to compile information from several sources, and other attributes such as conscientiousness to complete work in a timely manner.