A competency framework is a model that broadly describes performance excellence within an organization. Such a framework usually includes a number of competencies that are applied to multiple occupational roles within the organization. Each competency defines, in generic terms, excellence in working behaviour; this definition then establishes the benchmark against which staff are assessed.
A competency framework is a means by which organizations communicate which behaviours are required, valued, recognized and rewarded with respect to specific occupational roles. It ensures that staff, in general, have a common understanding of the organization’s values and expected excellent performance behaviours.
What are the components of the framework?
Core values: are principles that influence people’s actions and the choices they make. They are ethical standards that are based on the standards of conduct for the international civil service and are to be upheld by all staff.
Core competencies: provide the foundation of the framework, describing behaviours to be displayed by all staff members. They are defined by occupational roles for a given job.
Functional competencies: are defined by duties and responsibilities assumed by staff members for a given job. Based on the job complexity and level of responsibility, and the seniority of the occupational role, an average of three to five functional competencies are assigned to a given job.
Why use competencies?
Competencies enable the staff of an organization to have a clear understanding of the behaviours to be exhibited and the levels of performance expected in order to achieve organizational results. They provide the individual with an indication of the behaviours and actions that will be valued, recognized and rewarded.
Using a competency framework enables an organization to successfully align its staff’s skills, capabilities and knowledge with organizational priorities, resulting in business improvement and efficiencies.
Therefore, a well-structured and well defined competency framework plays a key role in accomplishing an organization’s goals in line with its mission and mandate.
More specifically, competencies ensure that:
- Clear expectations are set and staff members are guided as to how they can assume and reinforce behaviours in line with the organization’s mission, culture and goals.
- A shared language is created to describe what is needed and expected in the work environment, thereby providing for reliable and high quality performance delivery.
- The various facets of human resources management can be integrated, enhancing consistency in human resources planning, recruitment, learning and development, and performance management, and thereby contributing to the streamlining of human resources operations and ultimately to efficiency gains.
- Skills gaps are addressed, strengths are further developed and requirements for career progression are clarified.
- Staff mobility, organizational change and shaping of the organizational culture are fostered.
How are the competencies being used and supported?
Competencies are widely used across the Agency and are embedded in all human resources management functions, such as planning, recruitment, performance management and staff development. They are determined by the occupational roles and responsibilities, and the complexity of duties outlined in job descriptions.
- For planning, competencies are applied in job design, which involves the determination of the job content, the requirements to carry out the job and the relationships between the job holder and other staff. In this context, competencies ensure that the attributes, skills and behaviours necessary to achieve the highest performance standards for a given job are specified.
- For recruitment, competencies form an integral part of the selection process, facilitating the assessment of candidates to determine their suitability for a given job.
- For performance management and staff development, competencies facilitate the establishment of performance standards against which staff will be assessed, and the identify cation of individual and Agency-wide staff development priorities.
The competency framework is your roadmap to performance and results. Get to know it inside out – it’s your framework, your organization, your performance, STACKOIL can support you in building your competency frame work, for more details contact us to get guided by our professionals.
