15-1244.00 · Learning planner
Network and Computer Systems Administrators: a task-based learning plan
Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.
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Understand the profile before choosing priorities
The table shows the ten highest importance ratings among 35 skills with usable ratings. Skills tied on importance can share a rank. Importance (1–5) and level (0–7) describe different dimensions. A level of 4 is not 4/7 of a course, and neither scale is your personal score. Source dates refer to the underlying rating, not the database release date.
| Skill | Importance / 5 | Level / 7 | Rating date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systems Evaluation | 4.00 | 4.38 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Troubleshooting | 4.00 | 4.12 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.00 | 4.12 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.00 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Systems Analysis | 4.00 | 4.00 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.00 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.00 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Monitoring | 3.88 | 4.00 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.88 | 4.00 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Programming | 3.50 | 3.75 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
Anchor the plan in an actual task
Choose one reported task you want to understand better. Then choose one to three skills and describe an appropriate learning activity, evidence you will review and a date. For practical work requiring authorization, choose relevant coursework, observation or supervised training.
Systems Evaluation
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for network and computer systems administrators.
Level 4: Identify the reasons why a client might be unhappy with a product
Level 6: Evaluate the long-term performance of a new computer system
What would indicate the system is meeting its purpose, and what comparison would be fair?
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for network and computer systems administrators.
Level 4: Identify the circuit causing an electrical system to fail
Level 6: Direct the debugging of code for a new operating system
Which observations would distinguish two possible causes before changing anything?
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for network and computer systems administrators.
Level 4: Evaluate a loan application for degree of risk
Level 6: Decide whether a manufacturing company should invest in new robotics technology
Which options, constraints and consequences would you compare, and what could change the choice?
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for network and computer systems administrators.
Level 4: Answer inquiries regarding credit references
Level 2: Take a customer's order
What would you ask the other person to clarify, and how would you confirm you understood?
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for network and computer systems administrators.
Level 4: Determine how a new piece of equipment will affect production rates
Level 2: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
What inputs, outputs and dependencies would you map before proposing a change?
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for network and computer systems administrators.
Level 4: Understand an email from management describing new personnel policies
Level 2: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
Which instruction, constraint or exception in a document would you need to explain accurately?
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for network and computer systems administrators.
Level 4: Evaluate customer complaints and determine appropriate responses
Level 2: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late
What assumption could change your conclusion, and what evidence would you check first?
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for network and computer systems administrators.
Level 4: Monitor a meeting and revise the agenda to ensure important topics are discussed
Level 2: Proofread and correct a letter
What result or exception would you inspect during the task, and when would you revisit it?
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for network and computer systems administrators.
Level 4: Redesign a floor layout to take advantage of new manufacturing techniques
Level 2: Lay out tools to complete a job
How would you separate the problem into parts and compare possible explanations?
Programming
Writing computer programs for various purposes.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for network and computer systems administrators.
Level 4: Write a statistical analysis program to analyze demographic data
Level 2: Write a program to sort objects in a database
What input/output behavior and edge case would you use to check a small program?
Review the result
Your plan should explain why the selected skills matter for your chosen task, what you will do next and what evidence you will examine. Revisit the plan after that activity. Completing a worksheet or matching an occupation’s ratings does not establish professional competence.
Keep your worksheet
Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.
Source and practice material
Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.
Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.