What Are Competencies?
Oracle Human Resources defines the term 'competence' as measurable behavior, specifically "any measurable behavior required by an organization, job or position that a person may demonstrate in the work context". So, a competence can be:
- a piece of knowledge (such as the names of all the rivers in China)
- a skill (such as an interpersonal skill, widget turning, soldering a joint)
- an attitude (such as a proactive approach to work)
- an attribute (such as absence of color blindness or perfect pitch)
By defining measurable behavior, you can indicate what a person (for example, an employee, contractor, applicant) within an enterprise can do. Identifying how a competence is exhibited in the work context ensures your approach is objective rather than subjective, adding to employee understanding of what is expected of them. It also ensures fairness and equality of employment. Competencies clarify what is needed from both teams and individuals, especially when a major change within the enterprise is going on.
See Also
Competencies, Proficiency Levels and Indicators
