Poirier & Associates, Inc.

Consultants for Human Resources Development

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Performance Management Customer Map Competencies

The Competency Connection

Individual performers, teams and entire work units need the right mix of knowledge, skills and abilities in order to achieve high levels of performance. The core competencies of the organization along with the "success factors" that define exemplary individual performance are critical to sustaining competitive advantage.

In our view, the way an organization uses its competency models is more critical than the methodology used to determine them.  We do not mean to minimize the procedures required for valid competency model development. Rather, we consider the competency definition process to be only half the job.

The following describes our basic approach to developing competency models and the applications that lead to improved performance.

Our Approach to Developing Models 

Each organization operates in an environment that exerts pressures on its strategies and business objectives. It is this context that serves as the "platform" for defining competencies and implementing systems for using them. The whole competency-based approach, then, can be envisioned as a system.

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Our development process includes:

Defining the business issues such as competition, technology, reorganization, etc. that serve as the context
Determining the applications that will be used at the outset
Collecting information from high performers within the client organization
Researching (benchmarking) generic models outside the organization
Implementing the strategy that addresses current and future requirements

Tools for using defined competencies

Self directed learning can easily be facilitated using competency models.  We have developed a number of self and other rated assessment tools and accompanying development guides to help incumbents develop their competencies.

Interview and selection guides are also helpful in helping managers use defined competencies to select candidates for new positions.  Training for managers in using these guides is also available.