EFFECTIVE COMPETENCY MODELING

Developing competency frameworks and models that connect HR strategies with business strategies.

Competency Models Build a Strong Foundation and Framework for Talent Management

An integrated human resources or talent management system is a comprehensive set of human resource functions and programs that share a common architecture or “language” and are organized to complement and reinforce one another.

Models should reflect the unique reality of each organization.

Superior performance in one organization may look different in other organizations.

We help organizations develop competency frameworks, competency models, and HR applications that connect human resource strategies with business strategies. Each of our consultants has at least thirty-five years of experience in competency-based human resources, talent management, organization development, instructional design, and leadership development.

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What are Job Competency Models?

A model is a group of related competencies that together describe superior or effective performance for a particular job or role, in a particular organization.

Workitect’s competency modeling process starts with superior performers being identified, and then studied, to determine the skills, knowledge and personal characteristics that they possess that enables them to be superior performers. The methods used to collect data for the study, such as behavioral event interviews and expert panels, are designed to get beneath mere opinions about superior performance and superior performers.

Competency Models developed by Workitect include these sections:

  1. Overview of the competencies (typically 8-12) that may include competencies required to support the company’s mission, values, and strategy.
  2. Major responsibilities and performance measures
  3. Definition and behavioral indicators of each competency
  4. Optional –
    – Links between responsibilities and competencies
    – Technical skills and knowledge requirements
    – Future Scan – potential changes affecting the job in the future
    – Recommendations on ensuring that incumbents demonstrate each competency, through selection, development, and/or training

Workitect’s 6-Step Competency Modeling Methodology

Global Competency Framework Process - graphic

Competency Consulting Projects Completed

Our consultants have successfully completed projects for a variety of small, medium, and large-size global organizations, in the public and private sector, focusing on competency models and applications for leadership, management, professional, and technical positions.

View examples of completed projects

Competency Models Implementation Support

The manner in which you introduce and implement the concept of competencies within your organization will determine the effectiveness of your efforts. Installing competency models should be viewed as an organizational change initiative requiring deliberate actions to influence and get buy-in from the organization’s managers as well as incumbents in the positions impacted.

A Workitect consultant will work with you to develop an implementation strategy and plan based upon the needs of your organization. The plan would address areas such as:

  • Creating the business case for competency models in organizations.
  • Identifying the first position(s) for which competency models will be developed.
  • Identifying stakeholders in the initial competency models and a plan for influencing each stakeholder.
  • Establishing a communications plan to support the development of competencies for the initial positions selected and for implementing competencies within the organization.
  • Determining the data gathering approaches to use for the first positions selected, including identifying who should be involved in each of the various activities.
  • Ongoing coaching as you progress through the steps in developing your first job competency model.

Alternative Methods

Competency-Modeling using Job Analysis interviews and Resource Panels
Many organizations are finding it difficult to launch a competency-modeling project, often due to a lack of time, staff, or budget. To help these organizations, we have taken material from our Competency Modeling workshop and developed a program to enable a competency dictionary licensee to build competency models using focus group resource panels (aka expert panels), supplemented with job task analysis interviews. Includes model templates for 12 jobs. Requires a Workitect Competency Dictionary license. More Details

Job Competency Profiling using Virtual Resource PaneIs
This is web-based survey process for collecting information about job requirements and potential competencies. The survey contains both open-ended comment questions and quantitative ratings for collecting information about what a job requires. A set of 6-20 jobholders, managers of jobholders and other persons who are familiar with the job complete the survey. Workitect administers the survey, analyzes the responses, and prepares a detailed report that includes a draft competency model. Requires a Workitect Competency Dictionary license.
Sample Report | More Details

Launching a Project: Conceptualizing the Approach

The first key step in a consulting project is to decide if and how a project should go forward. It is step 1 in our 6-step process as taught in our Building Competency Models workshop. It includes:

  1. Thinking through the need
  2. Clarifying the need through discussions with the sponsor and other key stakeholders
  3. Developing an approach
  4. Gaining the sponsor’s support for the approach

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Competency-based HR applications - image

Applications

Competency-based HR applications have been created for performance management, assessment and selection, succession planning/management, training and development, and workforce management (re-engineering, upskilling, downsizing, and mergers).

Process of Building a Talent Management System- image

Process of Building a Talent Management System

Successful implementation of a competency-based HR system requires analysis and planning, model-building, developing applications, and implementation, using Workitect’s proven competency assessment methodology. Read more (PDF)

Practical Questions To Answer before Building Competency Models

When planning the development of a competency framework, competency model or models, there are practical considerations that affect the design of the project, the format and content of the competency model, and the success of the project’s implementation. The following seven questions may be useful to professionals responsible for planning and implementing:

  1. What HR application should be included in the initial competency model building project?
  2. What will the key users of the job competency model need from it?
  3. How should key stakeholders be involved?
  4. How extensive should the data collection be?
  5. How should research be balanced with intuitive approaches?
  6. What format of behavioral descriptors will best suit the HR application?
  7. How can additional, future competency models be accommodated?
Icon of Workitect Competency framework model PDF

Superior Performers Produce Superior Results

An effective system requires a clear understanding of the core competencies required for success in roles, and an accurate assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of employees.

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What Our Customers Say


“I’ve seen many overly complicated systems. This is a more simplified competency dictionary.”

Human Resources Director , Manufacturing
Our HR Clients