Where your employees actually stand with AI
The licenses have been procured. Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT Enterprise, or comparable tools are available to a large portion of the workforce. The budget is substantial, expectations for productivity gains have been articulated. The question that will be asked at the latest in the next personnel committee or quarterly review: Who is actually using the tools, and with what level of competency?
Experience shows a heterogeneous picture. A small group is already working with high productivity, understands data protection and quality assurance, and has integrated AI into their work routines. A second group uses the tools occasionally without exploiting their potential. A third group largely avoids them, whether due to uncertainty, skepticism, or lack of training. Three groups, one license cost center.
This competence check creates the foundation for a well-founded answer. Structured across three dimensions and twelve questions, with concrete level descriptions instead of pure self-assessments. It provides the data foundation for targeted training measures, instead of blanket training offerings whose impact cannot be demonstrated later.
When deployment makes sense
The competence check is aimed at those responsible in one of the following situations:
- AI tools have been rolled out, but there is no reliable statement about actual usage competency within the organization.
- Training budgets are available. The question is what they should be used for specifically, which employees have which needs, and where the focus should be placed.
- An argumentative foundation for executive management is needed to substantiate the value of the AI investment with reliable competency data.
- Shadow AI is an issue: employees are using freely accessible tools without clear guardrails, the compliance situation is unclear.
- A shared understanding of strengths and gaps in AI competency should be established within the team as a foundation for targeted development.
Scope of delivery
An immediately deployable Excel tool for independent application. Without platform dependency, without data migration, without external advisory.
- Three assessment dimensions with twelve assessment questions. Each question is backed by concrete level descriptions.
- Individual assessment with a processing time of approximately ten minutes. Suitable for quick individual positioning.
- Multi-assessment for teams with consolidated evaluation of up to twenty-five participants. Manual consolidation of individual assessments is eliminated.
- Automatic visualization with radar charts and detailed evaluations. Directly usable in committees, departmental meetings, strategy presentations, etc.
- Top 3 measures per competency level with concrete action recommendations. The analysis results in an actionable training and development plan.
The three assessment dimensions
AI competency is more than mastering individual tools. It encompasses fundamental understanding of the technology, the ability for productive application, and organizational anchoring in daily work. The model weights the three dimensions equally:
- Fundamental understanding – Application knowledge, quality assurance of results, data protection awareness, and basic technology understanding.
- Application competency – Prompt design, learning ability in handling new tools, value creation through AI deployment, and process integration.
- Integration and culture – Standardization of approaches, learning culture within the team, role model function of executives, and sustainable anchoring.
What distinguishes this competence check
- Focused on practical use. Developed for actual work with ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, and comparable tools. Not for abstract AI strategy questions, but for operational reality.
- Compact and actionable. Twelve questions, approximately ten minutes processing time. Substantial enough for well-founded decisions, lean enough for high participation rates – even with larger teams.
- Measurable instead of generic. Each question is backed by concrete level descriptions. Instead of self-assessments like “I can work well with AI,” verifiable characteristics are evaluated.
- Team perspective. The multi-assessment reveals where strengths lie within the team and where systematic gaps exist. The foundation for targeted, rather than scattered, development measures.
- Ends with actionability. Prioritized top 3 measures per competency level. After evaluation, it is not only clear where the team stands, but also which training and development steps are appropriate next.
Application in five steps
- Distribute individual assessment. Each participant assesses themselves based on concrete level descriptions. Approximately ten minutes processing time per person.
- Consolidate multi-assessment. Individual assessments are consolidated in the tool, statistical evaluations are generated automatically.
- Analyze visualization. Strengths and gaps become visible at a glance, both at individual and team level.
- Derive top 3 measures. Concrete training and development measures, aligned with the competency level achieved.
- Measure progress. Repeat after three to six months to validate the impact of measures.
Updates for 2026
The competence check has been calibrated for the current AI tool landscape: Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT Enterprise, Claude, and comparable applications. With particular focus on practical usage competency, data protection awareness in handling corporate data, and sustainable integration into daily work.
Background
This competence check is one of several models developed over more than twenty-five years of management advisory. The methodology is project-proven, evolved across multiple engagements, and continuously refined. It works across industries and independent of company size.
Should the analysis reveal that professional support would be beneficial: Personal advisory on AI implementation and competency development is available. An initial consultation is non-binding and clarifies whether collaboration would be productive.
Further Insights
In-depth coverage of the topics addressed here can be found in the following articles:
All articles can be found in the Insights overview, additional tools for independent application in the Solutions overview.
