A Guide to Using the Competency Dictionary by Spencer and Spencer for HRM Practices
What is a Competency Dictionary and Why Do You Need One?
If you are involved in human resource management (HRM) practices, you might have heard of the term "competency" or "competency dictionary". But what exactly are they and why are they important for your organization? In this article, we will explain the concept of competency and competency dictionary, as well as their benefits, challenges, and limitations for HRM practices.
Competency Dictionary Spencer.pdfl
Definition of competency and competency dictionary
A competency is a set of knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, or attitudes that are required for effective performance in a specific job or role. Competencies can be classified into different types, such as technical competencies (related to specific tasks or functions), behavioral competencies (related to how one performs or interacts with others), or core competencies (related to the values or culture of the organization).
A competency dictionary is a comprehensive list of competencies that are relevant for an organization or a profession. It provides clear definitions, descriptions, examples, and indicators for each competency. A competency dictionary can be used as a reference tool for various HRM practices, such as job analysis, recruitment, selection, training, development, performance appraisal, career planning, succession planning, etc.
Benefits of using a competency dictionary for HRM practices
Using a competency dictionary can bring many benefits for HRM practices, such as:
It can help to identify the key competencies that are needed for different jobs or roles in the organization.
It can help to align the HRM practices with the strategic goals and vision of the organization.
It can help to improve the quality and consistency of HRM practices across the organization.
It can help to enhance the communication and collaboration among HR professionals, managers, employees, and external stakeholders.
It can help to foster a culture of learning and development in the organization.
It can help to increase the motivation, engagement, satisfaction, and retention of employees.
It can help to improve the performance and productivity of employees and teams.
It can help to create a competitive advantage for the organization in the market.
Challenges and limitations of using a competency dictionary
However, using a competency dictionary also comes with some challenges and limitations, such as:
It can be time-consuming and costly to develop and maintain a comprehensive and updated competency dictionary.
It can be difficult to capture the complexity and diversity of competencies across different jobs or roles in the organization.
It can be challenging to measure and assess the competencies objectively and accurately.
It can be hard to balance the trade-off between standardization and customization of competencies for different contexts and situations.
It can be risky to rely too much on competencies and neglect other factors that affect performance, such as motivation, personality, culture, environment, etc.
How to Develop a Competency Dictionary for Your Organization?
Now that you have a basic understanding of what a competency dictionary is and why you need one, you might be wondering how to develop one for your organization. In this section, we will provide you with some steps and guidelines for developing a competency dictionary, as well as some examples of competency dimensions and components. We will also share some tips and best practices for developing a competency dictionary.
Steps and guidelines for developing a competency dictionary
According to Spencer and Spencer (1993), who are the pioneers of competency modeling, there are four main steps for developing a competency dictionary, as shown in the table below:
Step Description --- --- 1. Identify the jobs or roles that need competencies You can start by selecting the jobs or roles that are critical or strategic for your organization. You can also consider the jobs or roles that have high variability or complexity in performance. 2. Conduct a job analysis to collect data on competencies You can use various methods to collect data on the competencies that are required for the selected jobs or roles, such as interviews, surveys, focus groups, observations, document reviews, etc. You can involve different sources of data, such as managers, employees, customers, experts, etc. 3. Analyze the data and identify the key competencies You can use various techniques to analyze the data and identify the key competencies that are relevant for the selected jobs or roles, such as content analysis, factor analysis, cluster analysis, etc. You can also use existing competency frameworks or models as references. 4. Define and describe the competencies and create the competency dictionary You can use clear and concise language to define and describe each competency. You can also provide examples and indicators for each competency. You can organize the competencies into different categories or levels, such as core competencies, functional competencies, or behavioral competencies. Examples of competency dimensions and components
To give you some ideas of what competencies look like, here are some examples of competency dimensions and components proposed by different scholars:
Authors Year Dimensions or Components --- --- --- Katz & Kahn 1966 Technical and functional competencies; managerial competencies; human competencies; and conceptual competencies Boyatzis 1982 Threshold competencies (basic requirements); differentiating competencies (superior performance); cognitive competencies (knowledge and skills); emotional competencies (self-awareness and self-regulation); social competencies (interpersonal skills and leadership) Spencer & Spencer 1993 Motive (what drives one to act); trait (a physical characteristic or consistent response); self-concept (one's attitudes, values, or self-image); knowledge (information one has in specific areas); skill (the ability to perform a certain task) McClelland & McBer 1998 Achievement orientation; initiative; impact; influence; self-confidence; leadership; interpersonal understanding; teamwork; analytical thinking; conceptual thinking; information seeking; concern for order; quality and accuracy Parry 1996 Knowledge-based competencies (education, experience, technical knowledge); transferable skills (communication skills, problem-solving skills); personal traits and motivators (personality traits, values, interests) Tips and best practices for developing a competency dictionary
Here are some tips and best practices for developing a competency dictionary:
Involve multiple stakeholders in the process of developing a competency dictionary to ensure validity, reliability, and acceptance.
Use a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to collect and analyze data on competencies.
Focus on the critical few rather than the trivial many when identifying the key competencies.
Use clear and consistent terminology and format when defining and describing the competencies.
Use behavioral indicators rather than abstract concepts when describing the competencies.
Use positive rather than negative language when describing the competencies.
Use specific rather than generic terms when describing the competencies.
Use measurable rather than vague terms when describing the competencies.
Use action verbs rather than passive verbs when describing the competencies.
Use examples rather than assumptions when describing the competencies.
Competency-based assessment: This is a method where the candidates or employees are asked to perform a task or a simulation that mimics the real-life situations or challenges related to the job or role. The candidates or employees are expected to demonstrate their competencies through their actions and behaviors. This method can help to evaluate the candidates' or employees' practical or behavioral competencies.
How to provide feedback and coaching based on competencies
One of the most important applications of a competency dictionary for HRM practices is to provide feedback and coaching to your employees based on their competencies. Feedback and coaching can help your employees to improve their performance, develop their potential, and achieve their goals. Here are some tips on how to provide feedback and coaching based on competencies:
Be specific and constructive: When you provide feedback or coaching to your employees, you should use specific examples and indicators from the competency dictionary to support your observations and suggestions. You should also focus on the positive aspects as well as the areas for improvement, and avoid using vague or negative language.
Be timely and frequent: When you provide feedback or coaching to your employees, you should do it as soon as possible after the performance or behavior occurs, and not wait until the formal performance appraisal. You should also provide feedback or coaching regularly and consistently, and not only when there is a problem or a crisis.
Be collaborative and supportive: When you provide feedback or coaching to your employees, you should involve them in the process and encourage them to share their perspectives and opinions. You should also show empathy and respect, and acknowledge their feelings and emotions. You should also offer guidance and resources, and help them to create an action plan for improvement.
Be goal-oriented and results-oriented: When you provide feedback or coaching to your employees, you should link it to the organizational goals and vision, as well as the individual goals and expectations. You should also monitor and measure the progress and outcomes of the feedback or coaching, and celebrate the achievements and successes.
How to Evaluate and Update a Competency Dictionary?
A competency dictionary is not a static document that can be used forever. It is a dynamic tool that needs to be evaluated and updated regularly to ensure its relevance, validity, reliability, and usefulness for HRM practices. In this section, we will provide you with some reasons why you need to evaluate and update a competency dictionary, as well as some criteria and indicators for evaluation. We will also provide you with some strategies and techniques for updating a competency dictionary.
Importance of evaluating and updating a competency dictionary
Evaluating and updating a competency dictionary is important for several reasons, such as:
To keep up with the changes in the internal and external environment: Your organization might face changes in its strategy, structure, culture, processes, products, services, customers, competitors, etc. These changes might affect the competencies that are needed for different jobs or roles in your organization. Therefore, you need to evaluate and update your competency dictionary to reflect these changes.
To ensure the quality and consistency of HRM practices: Your organization might implement new or revised HRM practices that are based on competencies. These practices might require different or additional competencies than those in your existing competency dictionary. Therefore, you need to evaluate and update your competency dictionary to align with these practices.
To enhance the communication and collaboration among stakeholders: Your organization might have different stakeholders who are involved in or affected by the competency dictionary, such as HR professionals, managers, employees, customers, experts, etc. These stakeholders might have different expectations, opinions, feedbacks or suggestions regarding the competency dictionary. Therefore, you need to evaluate and update your competency dictionary to incorporate these inputs and ensure their satisfaction and engagement.
Criteria and indicators for evaluating a competency dictionary
To evaluate a competency dictionary, you need to have some criteria and indicators that can help you to measure its quality and effectiveness. There are various criteria and indicators that can be used for evaluating a competency dictionary, such as:
Relevance: This criterion refers to how well the competency dictionary matches the needs and goals of your organization and its stakeholders. Some indicators for relevance are: the alignment of the competencies with the organizational strategy and vision; the coverage of the competencies across different jobs or roles in the organization; the feedback from the stakeholders on the usefulness and applicability of the competencies.
Validity: This criterion refers to how well the competency dictionary reflects the reality and evidence of performance in your organization. Some indicators for validity are: the accuracy and clarity of the definitions and descriptions of the competencies; the consistency and reliability of the data collection and analysis methods for identifying the competencies; the feedback from the stakeholders on the accuracy and credibility of the competencies.
Reliability: This criterion refers to how well the competency dictionary produces consistent and stable results across different situations and contexts. Some indicators for reliability are: the standardization and integration of the competency dictionary across different HRM practices; the consistency and agreement of the ratings and assessments of the competencies among different sources; the feedback from the stakeholders on the consistency and fairness of the competencies.
Usefulness: This criterion refers to how well the competency dictionary supports and enhances HRM practices in your organization. Some indicators for usefulness are: the availability and accessibility of the competency dictionary for different users; the ease and efficiency of using and applying the competency dictionary for different purposes; the feedback from the stakeholders on the benefits and outcomes of using the competencies.
Strategies and techniques for updating a competency dictionary
To update a competency dictionary, you need to have some strategies and techniques that can help you to revise and improve it based on your evaluation results. There are various strategies and techniques that can be used for updating a competency dictionary, such as:
Add new competencies or delete obsolete competencies: You might need to add new competencies that are emerging or important for your organization or delete obsolete competencies that are no longer relevant or useful for your organization.
Merge similar competencies or split complex competencies: You might need to merge similar competencies that have overlapping or redundant definitions or descriptions or split complex competencies that have multiple or diverse dimensions or components.
Rename or redefine existing competencies: You might need to rename or redefine existing competencies that have unclear or confusing terminology or format.
Reorganize or reclassify existing competencies: You might need to reorganize or reclassify existing competencies that have inappropriate or inconsistent categories or levels.
Revise or refine existing competencies: You might need to revise or refine existing competencies that have inaccurate or incomplete examples or indicators.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a competency dictionary is a valuable tool for HRM practices that can help your organization to identify, develop, assess, and manage your human capital effectively. However, developing and using a competency dictionary is not an easy task. It requires careful planning, execution, evaluation, and updating. In this article, we have provided you with some guidance on how to develop, use, evaluate, and update a competency dictionary for your organization. We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you.
Summary of the main points
Here are some main points that we have covered in this article:
A competency is a set of knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, or attitudes that are required for effective performance in a specific job or role.
A competency dictionary is a comprehensive list of competencies that are relevant for an organization or a profession.
A competency dictionary can bring many benefits for HRM practices, such as improving performance, productivity, motivation, engagement, satisfaction, retention, learning, development, communication, collaboration, alignment, culture, etc.
A competency dictionary also comes with some challenges and limitations, such as being time-consuming, costly, difficult, challenging, risky, etc.
A competency dictionary can be developed by following four main steps: identifying the jobs or roles that need competencies, conducting a job analysis to collect data on competencies, analyzing the data and identifying the key competencies, and defining and describing the competencies and creating the competency dictionary.
A competency dictionary can be used for various HRM practices, such as recruitment and selection, learning and development, performance management, career development and succession management, and strategic human resource planning.
A competency dictionary can be evaluated based on four main criteria: relevance, validity, reliability, and usefulness.
A competency dictionary can be updated by using various strategies and techniques, such as adding, deleting, merging, splitting, renaming, redefining, reorganizing, reclassifying, revising, or refining the competencies.
Call to action for the readers
If you are interested in developing or using a competency dictionary for your organization, we invite you to contact us for more information and assistance. We are a team of experts who can help you to create a customized and comprehensive competency dictionary that suits your needs and goals. We can also help you to implement and integrate the competency dictionary into your HRM practices. We can also help you to evaluate and update your competency dictionary regularly. We are here to support you and your organization in achieving excellence and success.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) that you might have about a competency dictionary:
Q: How many competencies should a competency dictionary have?
A: There is no definitive answer to this question. The number of competencies in a competency dictionary depends on various factors, such as the size, scope, complexity, diversity, and strategy of your organization or profession. However, a general rule of thumb is to focus on the critical few rather than the trivial many when identifying the key competencies. You should also avoid having too many or too few competencies that might compromise the quality or usefulness of your competency dictionary.
Q: How often should a