Skip to main content

Organizational Competency Management: Undiscovered Competencies on Leaders’ Radar

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Management, Tourism and Smart Technologies (ICMTT 2023)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 773))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 174 Accesses

Abstract

A paradigm to steer organizational job processes, is competency management.

Identifying talents and skills needed, helps achieve organizational goals. Research in skills management is important to estimate their impact in these processes and in workers professional enrichment.

Identifying which competencies (hard, ethical, transversal) are necessary and valued by Portuguese managers was the main objective of this investigation. The originality of this study, was demonstrated by researched HR managers, identifying a list of competencies appreciated but not typically mentioned in the literature. We have settled the name “radar of competencies” for this list of abilities and skills.

Qualitative methodology was used. First step was conducting 22 interviews with a semi-structured script that was developed using information gleaned from the previous literature study. The data were coded and processed with NVivo software.

The results indicate the most following competencies: communication; teamwork; pressure tolerance; assertiveness; diligence; confidence; responsibility; empathy; autonomy; and attitude. The most important would be being able to communicate well, having a good attitude, being reliable, being assertive, and being able to do things on your own. We conclude that transversal and moral/ethical competencies the most valued.

Emotional intelligence, proactiveness, resilience, and building rapport were not recognized in the literature. Our proposed radar definition may include these.

Identification of firm-recognized competencies can help students, improving knowledge and marketable skills. That benefits job seekers, businesses, and educational institutions.

We recommend more studies assessing the most valued skills, to improve a good fit between formation offer and work requirements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Homer, M.: Skills and competency management. Ind. Commer. Train. 33(2), 59–62 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1108/00197850110385624

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Stevens, G.W.: A critical review of the science and practice of competency modeling. Hum. Resour. Dev. Rev. 12(1), 86–107 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484312456690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Elkin, G.: Competency-based human resource development. Ind. Commer. Train. 22(4), 20–25 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1108/00197859010137009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Sandberg, J.: Understanding human competence at work: an interpretative approach. Acad. Manag. J. 43(1), 9–25 (2000). https://doi.org/10.5465/1556383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Mirabile, R.J.: Everything you wanted to know about competency modelling. Training Dev. 51(8), 73–78 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Boyatzis, R.E.: The Competent Manager: A Model for Effective Performance. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., New York (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bartram, D.: Assessment in organisations. Appl. Psychol. 53(2), 237–259 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-0597.2004.00170.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Prusak, R.: The impact of employee competencies management as part of the human capital on the intellectual capital implementing process. Management 20(1), 27–39 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1515/manment-2015-0022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Pickett, L.: Competencies and managerial effectiveness: Putting competencies to work. Publ. Pers. Manage. 27(1), 103–115 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1177/009102609802700110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Abrahamsson, B.: Why organizations? How and Why People Organize. SAGE Publications, Incorporated, Newbury Park and London (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Page, C., Wilson, M., Kolb, D.: Managerial Competencies and New Zealand Managers: On the Inside, Looking in Auckland. University of Auckland, New Zealand (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Rainsbury, E., Hodges, D., Burchell, N., Layet, M.: Ranking workplace competencies: student and graduate perceptions. Asia-Pac. J. Coop. Educ. 3(2), 8–18 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Azim, S., et al.: The importance of soft skills in complex projects. Int. J. Manag. Proj. Bus. 3(3), 387–401 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1108/17538371011056048

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Poisson-de Haro, S., Turgut, G.: Expanded strategy simulations: developing better managers. J. Manage. Dev. 31, 209–220 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1108/02621711211208844

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Balcar, J.: Is it better to invest in hard or soft skills? Econ. Labour Relat. Rev. 27(4), 453–470 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1177/1035304616674613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Almeida, F., Devedzic, V.: The relevance of soft skills for entrepreneurs. J. East Eur. Manage. Stud. 27(1), 157–172 (2022). https://doi.org/10.5771/0949-6181-2022-1-157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hendarman, A.F., Cantner, U.: Soft skills, hard skills, and individual innovativeness. Eurasian Bus. Rev. 8(2), 39–169 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40821-017-0076-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Marandi, R.J., Smith, B.K., Burch, R.F., Vick, S.C.: Engineering soft skills vs engineering entrepreneurial skills. Int. J. Eng. Educ. 35(4), 988–998 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Dwyer, S.: Moral competence. In: Philosophy and Linguistics, pp. 169–190. Westview Press (2019).https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429301612-6

  20. Rozewski, P., Malachowski, B.: Competence management in knowledge-based organisation: case study based on higher education organisation. In: Karagiannis, D., Jin, Z. (eds.) Knowledge Science, Engineering and Management. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 5914, pp. 358–369. Springer, Heidelberg (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-10488-6_35

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  21. Lee, J.G., Park, Y., Yang, G.H.: Driving performance improvements by integrating competencies with human resource practices. Perform. Improv. Q. 23(1), 71–90 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1002/PIQ.20076

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Parry, S.B.: Just what is a competency? (And why should you care?). Training 35(6), 58 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Campion, M.A., Fink, A., Ruggeberg, B., Carr, L., Phuillips, G., Odman, R.: Doing competencies well: best practices in competency modelling. Pers. Psychol. 64(1), 225–262 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2010.01207.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Brophy, M., Kiely, T.: Competencies: a new sector. J. Eur. Indus. Training 26(2/3/4), 165–176 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1108/03090590210422049

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Hamel, G., Prahalad, C.K.: Competing for the Future. Harvard Business School Press, Boston (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Prahalad, C., Hamel, G.: The core competence of the corporation. Harv. Bus. Rev. 68(3), 79 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-30763-X_14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Andrews, J., Higson, H.: Higher education in Europe graduate employability, “soft skills” versus “hard” business knowledge: a European study. Higher Educ. Europe. 33(4), 411–422 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1080/03797720802522627

  28. Babi, V., Slavkovi, M.: Soft and hard skills development : a current situation in Serbian companies. In: Management, Knowledge and Learning, International Conference 2011 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Montandon, J.E., Politowski, C., Silva, L., Valente, M., Petrillo, F., Guéhéneuc, Y.: What skills do IT companies look for in new developers? A study with stack overflow jobs. Inf. Softw. Technol. 129, 106429 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2020.106429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Sousa, M.J.: Human resources management skills needed by organizations. In: Benlamri, R., Sparer, M. (eds.) Leadership, Innovation and Entrepreneurship as Driving Forces of the Global Economy. SPBE, pp. 395–402. Springer, Cham (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43434-6_33

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  31. Weerarathna, R., Pintoe, A.: A study of essential competencies and skills of HR managers in Sri Lanka. Manage. Admin. Sci. Rev. 5(6), 337–352 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Robles, M.M.: Executive perceptions of the top 10 soft skills needed in today’s workplace. Bus. Commun. Q. 75(4), 453–465 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1177/1080569912460400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Tesone, B.D.V., Ricci, P.: Hotel and Restaurant Entry-Level Job Competencies: Comparisons of Management and Worker Perceptions. Hosp. Rev. 27(1), 77–90 (2009). https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/hospitalityreview/vol27/iss1/5

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pedro Miguel Gaspar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Gaspar, P.M., Madeira, R., Correia, R., Victor, J.A.M., Leal, C. (2024). Organizational Competency Management: Undiscovered Competencies on Leaders’ Radar. In: Montenegro, C., Rocha, Á., Cueva Lovelle, J.M. (eds) Management, Tourism and Smart Technologies. ICMTT 2023. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 773. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-44131-8_20

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics