OFA 1 Role Definition and the Six Core Behaviors

Artifacts and Communication Expectations

Artifact Baseline for OFA 1

The following are the minimum artifacts an OFA 1 should be able to produce reliably:

A.A clear, accurate meeting summary with decisions and action items separated
B.A well-organized personal or team action item tracker

A requirements note that accurately reflects what a stakeholder said, distinguished from the OFA's own interpretation — captured, where appropriate, as a diagram, flow chart, or short presentation rather than only as prose

C.A test execution record that documents steps taken, expected result, actual result, and any discrepancy
D.A basic launch-readiness checklist confirming that a solution's deliverables match its documented requirements before go-live

II.

Communication Expectations

Expected Communication practices

An OFA 1 is not expected to lead communication efforts, but they are expected to communicate clearly enough that their work can be understood, supported, and acted upon by others.

1.Status and Progress Reporting
a.# Provides timely updates on assigned work
b.# Communicates completion, delays, and status changes without waiting to be asked
c.# Keeps teammates and supervisors informed of significant developments that may affect assigned work
2.Issue Identification and Escalation
a.# Raises blockers, risks, and unanswered questions early
b.# Seeks clarification when requirements, instructions, or priorities are unclear
c.# Escalates concerns through appropriate channels rather than attempting to resolve unfamiliar situations independently
3.Questioning and Clarification
a.# Uses questions to increase understanding rather than making assumptions
b.# Confirms understanding when receiving assignments or direction
c.# Demonstrates a willingness to learn from more experienced team members
4.Written Communication
a.# Produces clear emails, messages, notes, and documentation
b.# Includes enough context that others can understand what was done, what is needed, and what comes next
c.# Organizes information in a logical and professional manner appropriate to the audience
5.Meeting and Team Communication
a.# Participates appropriately in meetings and working sessions
b.# Takes notes and records decisions, actions, or follow-up items when requested
c.# Shares relevant information with team members who may be affected by assigned work
6.Communication Mindset
a.# Communicates with professionalism, responsiveness, and respect
b.# Recognizes that effective communication is as important as technical execution
c.# Understands that asking for help when needed is a strength, not a weakness

Communication Skill Development Roadmap

This module introduces the communication expectations associated with OFA 1. Mastery is developed progressively throughout the remainder of the curriculum.

1.Module 3 — OFA Foundations and Team Processes
a.# Develops the communication habits needed to operate within established team structures, including terminology, workflows, status reporting, and understanding when to seek guidance.
2.Module 4 — Requirements Support
a.# Develops communication skills used when gathering, clarifying, documenting, and reviewing requirements. Emphasis is placed on asking effective questions and documenting information accurately.
3.Module 5 — Discovery and Analysis
a.# Builds active listening, information gathering, note-taking, and stakeholder communication skills that support discovery activities and analysis work.
4.Module 6 — Documentation and Artifact Stewardship
a.# Develops written communication through maintenance of notes, action items, meeting records, requirements artifacts, and other project documentation.
5.Module 7 — Validation and Testing Support
a.# Strengthens communication related to testing activities, defect reporting, clarification requests, and documenting validation results.
6.Module 8 — Solution Deployment Support
a.# Develops communication practices required during implementation and launch activities, including coordination, readiness updates, issue awareness, and post-launch follow-up.
7.Module 9 — Judgment, Guidance, and Escalation
a.# Provides the most comprehensive treatment of communication judgment. Learners develop an understanding of when to act independently, when to seek direction, and how to escalate issues appropriately while operating under direct supervision.
8.Key Principle
a.# This module establishes expectations. Modules 3 through 9 develop those expectations into practical skills through repeated application and increasing responsibility.

Completion Indicators