Identify an Organization’s Core Competencies

Core Competencies are what the organization does best and consist of the combined activities, operations, capabilities, and resources that distinguish the company from competitors. Their determination flows from the organization’s vision, mission, values, culture, and strategy.

An example of a core competency is “Extraordinary Customer Service”. If this is a competency deemed to be a key strength of the organization and required to carry out its business strategy, the competency needs to be translated into a format that becomes a standard for every employee to emulate. It needs to be built into every job competency model, as a measure of effective or superior performance.

The competency is so important to the organization that is “core” to the present and future success of it. Each core competency (skills, knowledge, and personal characteristics) and behaviors are required of the workforce and guide the selection and development of talent. Core competencies are the foundation of a competency framework for the organization.

Most of the competency models we have built for organizations identify 8-14 total competencies for a specific job or job family [Examples], of which 1-4 are organizational core competencies.

Here is an example of a competency, taken from our Competency Dictionary, that is frequently included as a core competency in models. It is also included in models that have not determined it to be an organizational core competency.

“Customer Orientation”

Definition: Demonstrated concern for satisfying one’s external and/or internal customers.

Behaviors:

1. Lives the business mission: to be the preferred supplier through total customer satisfaction
2. Quickly and effectively solves customer problems
3. Talks to customers (internal or external) to find out what they want and how satisfied they are with what they are getting
4. Lets customers know he/she is willing to work with them to meet their needs
5. Finds ways to measure and track customer satisfaction
6. Presents a cheerful, positive manner with customers

There are many ways to identify and write core competencies. Most include interviewing executives and directors on boards of directors, and/or conducting meetings that are similar to resource panels and expert panels used for building competency models.

A PROCESS & TOOL FOR DETERMINING THE CORE COMPETENCIES OF AN ORGANIZATION’S WORKFORCE

Regardless of the method used, the collection of relevant data to be considered in the process can be facilitated by the completion of a worksheet we have used in our practice. People who will be using the worksheet should also be provided with a competency dictionary listing competencies that can be chosen. The worksheets can be completed individually or in a group. These are some of the questions and instructions contained in the Core Competencies Analysis Worksheet:

Using the data from the worksheets to finalize a list of core competencies can be accomplished in several ways as described in the blog post General Approach for Analyzing Data to Build a Competency Model.

Another approach is to develop a competency model for the executive leadership group using a proven six-step process, but adding the task of identifying the core competencies for the organization. Of the 8-14 competencies that are demonstrated by superior or effective performing executives, which 1-4 competencies need to be demonstrated by all employees?

EXAMPLE: This is a client organization’s description of it’s core competencies and competency framework. >>>

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THE STEPS THAT PRECEDE THE DETERMINATION OF CORE COMPETENCIES

Describing the Organization’s:

Vision

The Vision describes where the organization aspires to be upon achieving its mission. It concentrates on the future and gives the company direction. It is the future of the business, which then provides the purpose. Often it describes not just the future of the organization, but the future of the industry or society in which the organization hopes to effect change. ….More

Mission
The Mission Statement concentrates on the present; it defines the customer(s), critical processes and it informs employees about the desired level of performance. Key questions answered include: What do we do? Whom do we serve? How do we serve them? The mission statement drives the company. It is what you do, the core of the business, and from it come the objectives and finally, what it takes to reach those objectives. It also shapes your company’s culture. …. More

Values
Values are enduring, passionate, and distinctive core beliefs. They’re guiding principles that never change. Values are deeply held convictions, priorities, and underlying assumptions that influence attitudes and behaviors. They serve as its cultural cornerstones. They are the source of a company’s distinctiveness. Aspirational values are those that an organization needs to succeed in the future, but currently lacks. …. More

Culture
Culture is the character and personality of an organization. It’s what makes an organization unique and is the sum of its values, traditions, beliefs, interactions, behaviors, and attitudes. It is collection of business practices, processes, and interactions that make up the work environment. …. More

Strategy
A business strategy is the organization’s working plan for achieving its vision, prioritizing objectives, competing successfully, and optimizing financial performance with its business model. It is the sum of the actions a company intends to take to achieve long-term goals. It is about how resources should be allocated to accomplish the mission. A strategic plan provides the what, who, how, and why necessary to powerfully align action in organizations.

Related Blog Posts

How to Write a Vision, Mission and Values Statement

Mission & Vision Statements: What is the difference between mission, vision and values statements?

Tailor job competency models to your organization’s vision, mission, and shared values.

There is a lot of interest in being able to effectively describe an organization’s core competencies and the core competencies required of individuals in the organization. And there also seems to be different interpretations of what constitutes “core competencies”. Some view them as a total list of all competencies (competency dictionary) to select from in building competency models.

Suggested discussion topics for these blog posts:

1. How do you and your organization view core competencies?
2. What process have you used to identify and describe the core competencies in your organization?
3. What has worked and what would you do differently if given the opportunity?
4. Next steps? How will you apply the core competencies?

To learn more about our products and services, and how competencies and competency models can help your organization, call 800-870-9490, email edward.cripe@workitect.com or use the contact form at Workitect.

“Genius is the ability to reduce the complicated to the simple.” C.W. Ceran