A Guidebook on Competency

Modelling and Profiling

The development and printing of this knowledge product was made possible through the support of the
Australian Government through the Philippines Australia Human Resource and Organisational Development
Facility (PAHRODF).

PAHRODF encourages the use, translation, adaptation and copying of this material with appropriate credit
given to the Facility and its partner organisation/s.

Although reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of this material, neither the publisher and/or
contributor can accept any liability for any consequence arising from the use thereof or from any information
contained herein.

First printed and bound 2016 in Manila, Philippines. Second printing in 2017.

Published by:

Philippines Australia Human Resource and Organisational Development Facility (PAHRODF)

Level 3, JMT Building, ADB Avenue
Ortigas, Pasig City
Tel. No: (632) 638-9686
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pahrodf.org.ph
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Message from Australian Embassy Philippines 7
About Australia’s Aid Program in the Philippines 9
About PAHRODF 13
Preface 15
Using the Guidebook 17
Chapter 1. Exploring Competencies and Competency Modelling 19
Competency Modelling—Another Fad? 21
Competency Modelling in Context 22
Competency Modelling—Where It All Began 25
What are competencies? 27
Some distinctions—Competencies vs. Skill 32
Competencies vs. Values and Ethics 35
Chapter 2. Appreciating the Benefits of Competency Modelling 39
For the Organisation 42
For the Manager 44
For the Employee 46
Chapter 3. Understanding Job Competencies 47
Core Competencies 50
Functional/Technical Competencies 53
Managerial/Leadership Competencies 54
Chapter 4. Developing a Competency Model 57
What is a Competency Model? 59
Elements of a Competency Model 60
What is a Competency Dictionary? 83
Preparing to Embark on a Competency Modelling Activity 85
 Assessing Organisation Readiness for Competency Modelling 89
Chapter 5. Identifying Competencies 93
The Starting Point 95
Processes and Approaches in Identifying Various Types of Competencies 98
Data Gathering Methods 103
Considerations for Choosing the Data Gathering Methods 108
Sources of Data 110
Desirable Characteristics of Data Sources for Interviews and FGDs 111
Selecting a Representative Sample 113
Data Analysis 114
Chapter 6. Creating Job/ Position Competency Profiles 117
Competency-based Job Description 119
Chapter 7. Practical Tips for Competency Modelling 123
Tips in Developing a Competency Model 125
Tips in Developing Rubric & Proficiency Levels 127
Tips in Developing Behavioural Indicators 128
Chaper 8. Employee Learning and Development 129
HR Planning 131
Recruitment, Selection, & Placement 131
Leadership Development 132
Employee Learning and Development 132
Performance Management 133
Career & Succession Planning 133
Conclusion 134
References 136
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Competencies vis-à-vis Results 23
Figure 2. A Metaphor for Competency 28
Figure 3. A Cartoon on Competency 33
Figure 4. HR Strategic Partner Competency 64
Figure 5. Workplace Learning and Performance (WLP) Professional Competency
Model of the Philippine Society for Training & Development (PSTD) 65
Figure 6. UK Civil Service Competency Model 66
Figure 7. Sample Competency Map 119
Figure 8. Sample Competency Based JD (Abbreviated) 120

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Methods for Competency Identification

LIST OF ANNEXES
List of Annexes
Annex 1. Glossary of Terms 137
Annex 2. DSWD Functional/ Technical Competencies 143
Annex 3. Sample Rubric 145
Annex 4. Sample Competency Table (CSC) 147
Annex 5. Action Verbs for Behavioural Indicators 149
Annex 6. Sample Pages of a Competency Dictionary 153
Annex 7. Assessing Readiness for Competency Identification,
Modelling and Assessment 161
Annex 8. Techniques in Competency Modelling (Build Approach) 165
Annex 9. Institutional Journey in Competency Modelling:
The CSC and DSWD Experiences 169
Annex 10. Sample Job Competency Map 172
Annex 11. Sample Competency-based Job Description 174
Annex 12. Lessons Learned by CSC and DSWD 183
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MESSAGE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY PHILIPPINES

The Australian Government is a staunch supporter of the Philippine Government in their priority agenda of
promoting good governance.

Our aid program helps build stronger public institutions for more inclusive governance. We believe that
developing a cadre of capable public servant leaders is essential so government can better deliver services to its
citizenry.

Australia is one of the few international partners in the country working to provide responsive technical
support aimed at improving the skills, knowledge and integrity of Filipino civil servants. We are doing this
through the Philippines Australia Human Resource and Organisational Development Facility or PAHRODF.

I am proud that PAHRODF is such a successful program within Australia’s aid portfolio in the Philippines. It is
a well-managed facility that has been yielding positive and enduring benefits.

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The Guidebook on Competency Modelling and Profiling is again a reflection of learning innovations that
PAHRODF has introduced. It is based on one of PAHRODF interventions instrumental in breaking new
grounds in the way our partner agencies — the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) — recruit and train employees. With better job-person match among the
personnel, these organisations are now able to improve how they deliver their core programs.

Through this guidebook, we hope we can share with everyone the benefits of having robust competency-based
human resource systems.

Congratulations to Civil Service Commission for spearheading the development of this guidebook. I encourage
everyone — whether from public or private organisations - to use this guidebook and make a difference in your
organisation.

Bill Tweddell
Ambassador
Australian Embassy Philippines

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ABOUT AUSTRALIA’S AID PROGRAM IN

THE PHILIPPINES
Why we give aid
The Philippines is buoyed by economic growth, yet more than 42 million Filipinos survive on less than $2 a day.
Helping the Philippines to tackle poverty will contribute to prosperity for our near neighbour, and build greater
security for our region.

Australia can make a difference. By targeting our programs, aligning our work with the development goals of
the Philippine Government and focusing on poverty reduction, Australian aid can make a difference in the lives
of ordinary Filipinos.

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How we give aid

The Australia – Philippines Aid Program Strategy (2012-2017) focuses on education, local government service
delivery, disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, peace building and good governance.
Australia will work with the Philippines in a relationship of mutual trust, recognition and accountability to achieve
improvements in these areas. Our key partners are the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nations
agencies, civil society organisations and Australian agencies such as the Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research and Geoscience Australia.

Improving Education
Education is top priority for Australian aid in the Philippines – this aligns with the high priority of the Philippine
Government is giving to education reform. Our programs help children get an education and stay in school.
When they graduate, they will be better equipped for tertiary study or starting a job. By 2017, Australian aid will
have built 7500 classrooms, trained 40000 teachers and helped improve the education curriculum to meet the
demands of the expanding education system.

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Enhancing the foundations for sustained economic growth

The Australian Government works with the Philippine Government in identifying and addressing binding
constraints to growth. It supports public-private partnerships to fund priority infrastructure projects and
builds stronger foundations for local economic development. This is in line with the overall goal of promoting
prosperity, reducing poverty, and enhancing political stability.

Strengthening disaster risk management

The Philippines is the third most vulnerable country to natural disasters. When earthquakes, volcanic eruptions
and severe typhoons occur, the poor are the worst affected. Australia is partnering with the Philippines to ensure
communities are better prepared for natural disasters. By 2017, detailed risk maps will be produced to prevent
urban development in hazard areas.

Improving conditions for peace and security

Decades of conflict have resulted in the development of Mindanao, in southern Philippines, slipping behind.
Poverty, a lack of basic education and weak governance are ongoing problems in conflict-affected areas.
Our programs introduce education in remote communities and provide new opportunities for youth involved
with armed groups. We will help the Philippines conduct credible and legitimate elections and improve its
accountability to citizens in Mindanao.

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Supporting the foundations for accountable, transparent and effective

governance
Improving the quality of governance in the Philippines is fundamental to the country’s development prospects.
Australian aid is providing practical support to the Philippine Government by helping build a modern public
financial management system. We are also helping enhance the skills and expertise of the public service
workforce and are helping build stronger government institutions. Our programs establishes partnerships with
civil society organisations to help advocate for governance and reforms.

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ABOUT PAHRODF
The Philippines Australia Human Resource and Organisational Development Facility (PAHRODF) is a five-
year (2010-2015) program of the Australian Government tasked to support to the Australian Government’s
initiatives under the Australia-Philippines Development Program Statement of Commitment.

In support of the Statement of Commitment’s goal and objectives, PAHRODF provides human resource
development and institutional strengthening support to targeted national and local government agencies that
play a key role in promoting education reforms, enhancing foundations for economic growth, building better
disaster preparedness capabilities, and improving the conditions for peace and security.

It is recognised that for Australian aid to have meaningful impact, it must help improve governance by building
capacity of relevant government institutions and facilitating partnerships between government and civil
society to create stronger demand and accountability for change.

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PAHRODF helps build the foundation of good governance in selected organisations critical in delivering the two
countries’ mutual development priorities so they can be more capable of delivering services and effecting positive
changes in the Philippines. The Facility does this by assisting partner organisations address their human resource
and organisational development needs in terms of:

• Identifying, prioritising, and developing targeted capacities and competencies to support

organisational change;
• Making better use of capacities and competencies to improve service delivery; and
• Sharing and building on enhanced capacities and competencies as basis for continuous
improvement and learning.

This Guidebook on Competency Modelling and Profiling is one of the knowledge products that PAHRODF offers
to its partners and the HROD community at large.

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PREFACE
Welcome to the world of competency model building and job profiling! This how-to reference material has
been designed to be your companion in developing competency models and profiles whether for a specific
positions, a family of jobs, or indeed the entire organisation.

What makes this guidebook different from other guidebooks in competency modelling and job profiling is
that it brings together the experiences of two of the PAHRODF’s partner institutions, the Civil Service
Commission (CSC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), from which lessons
and useful practices may be drawn not just by public sector organisations but other sectors as well.

In 2012, PAHRODF launched an institution-wide competency modelling and job profiling intervention
for CSC and DSWD that has changed the way these two organisations recruit, select and promote their
personnel. Today, HR placement is based on a combination of qualifications standards (education, training,
experience and eligibility) plus job competencies specific to the position.

In addition to using traditional screening tools, these two institutions today use behaviour event interviewing
(BEI) to assess level of competencies that candidates possess leading to a better job-person match in hiring.
As they say in HR, there are no bad jobs or bad employees, only bad job-person fit. Better job-person match
means higher productivity, better performance, and lower turnover.

Competency modelling and job profiling provide a platform for a more objective, fair and defensible
recruitment process for the organisation. Because of better job match, the chosen candidates increase their

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chances of success and personal satisfaction on the job. At the organisation level, lower turnover leads to
savings in terms of cost of hiring and individual contribution is better aligned with organisational goals and
mandates.

Because competency modelling has been around the last 40 years, there has been a proliferation of philosophies,
approaches, methods and techniques in this field. This guidebook presents good practices and alternative
methodologies with their pros and cons, as well as clarify the diverse terminologies used in this field of
practice. It provides many helpful references and practical examples some of which are included as annexes to
the body of the guidebook.

This guidebook would not have been possible without the help of the men and women of the CSC and DSWD
who gave their time and generously shared their outputs, experiences and learning from their competency
modelling and job profiling journey. Special thanks go to Dr. William Rothwell, HR guru, who acted as shadow
consultant for the development of this guidebook.

It is PAHRODF’s hope that this guidebook will inspire you to embark on the same journey that CSC and
DSWD took to usher in a new HR framework that will bring your human capital to the next level.

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HOW TO USE THIS GUIDEBOOK

This guidebook is designed to facilitate the development of competency models that are strategic, credible
and acceptable to your organisation. Being strategic means ensuring that competency models are aligned with
the organisation’s mission, vision, values, and strategic goals. Credibility comes from the rigor that went into
developing competency models for the various levels and positions in the organisation; while the acceptability
comes from the meaningful engagement of critical stakeholders in crafting the competency model.

This guidebook is divided into eight chapters, and it is best to read it according to the sequence in which the
topics are presented. Chapters 1 to 3 lay the foundation for a more holistic and fine-tuned understanding of
competencies, and help clarify different perspectives and possible confusion in terminologies arising from a
profusion of literature on competency modelling concepts and frameworks. A Glossary of Terms (Annex I) is
provided to further assist readers with the terms used in the guidebook.

Chapters 4-6 focus on the process of identifying competencies, developing competency models, and
preparing job competency profiles. The last section of Chapter 4 discusses some prerequisites for successful
implementation of a competency study, including facilitating the organisation’s readiness to support the
endeavour.

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Practical tips for competency modelling and profiling are provided in Chapter 7. Finally, Chapter 8 revisits
the various applications of competency models and job profiles in installing and executing strategic and
competency-based HR systems and processes.

To highlight important concepts, the text of this guidebook is interspersed with key ideas, definitions, examples
and tips that are set apart in boxes or sidebars. Some ideas are presented in figures while others in tables and
matrices. The more expansive tables, matrices and templates are included as annexes for your easy reference.

Good luck on your competency modelling project!

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1
COMPETENCY MODELLING AND PROFILING

EXPLORING
COMPETENCIES
AND COMPETENCY
MODELLING
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 COMPETENCY MODELLING—ANOTHER FAD? 1.1

COMPETENCY MODELLING IN CONTEXT 1.2

COMPETENCY MODELLING—WHERE IT ALL BEGAN 1.3

WHAT ARE COMPETENCIES? 1.4

SOME DISTINCTIONS—COMPETENCIES VS. SKILL 1.5

COMPETENCIES VS. VALUES AND ETHICS 1.6

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1.1 COMPETENCY MODELLING—ANOTHER FAD?

The concern for performance in the workplace has triggered interest
in discovering what sets apart best-in-class performers from their
average counterparts. Identifying and capturing these success factors
in a “template” that allows organisations to cultivate and harness these
characteristics to drive performance has led to the art and science of
what is today called “competency modelling.”

For those hearing about competency modelling for the first time,
be assured that competency modelling is not just another HR
management buzzword or the latest trend in the HR field. Its
concepts and principles have endured for over four decades, and the
processes for developing competency models have been refined over
the years.

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1.2 COMPETENCY MODELLING IN CONTEXT

In what may now be considered as the traditional practice of personnel
management, work analysis and job descriptions were the basis for many
HR activities. Job descriptions defined an incumbent’s work activities
and job specifications, and provided the basis for hiring, job evaluation,
performance assessment, compensation management, and other
personnel functions.

Over the years, the inadequacy of just using job descriptions as anchor
for managing and driving performance has become increasingly
apparent. Organisations realise that job descriptions are highly
focused on tasks and activities, and do not really define work results
in measureable terms. Consequently, performance levels and tangible
results are not communicated clearly to the job holder. Job descriptions
can also quickly turn stale or obsolete with rapid technological
advancements and increasingly complex organisational challenges.

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Tasks listed in the job description can easily change when

new technology is introduced or job demands are modified.
Thus, organisations can not be as agile and flexible in
optimising its human talent to achieve desired results.

In contrast, the use of competency models allows

organisations to match people’s capability with outputs
and results expected from the job, ensuring greater job
satisfaction for the worker and better use of talent for the
organisation. (Please refer to Figure 1.)

knowledGe
2. BEHAVIOURS
SKILL We apply these in form of Behaviours.
(Actions, Thoughts, and Feelings)

ATTITUDE
The Implications of
1. COMPETENCIES Competencies as a Basis For
People have and get competencies.
HR Management
Figure 1. Competencies
(Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes)
Vis-à-vis Results
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Likewise, the organisation can deliberately

cultivate competencies needed today for
job holders to perform at peak levels, and
at the same time develop those required in
the future for it to remain competitive. The
use of competency models in HR has gained
3. OUTPUTS popularity because of its power to stimulate
productivity and use human talent to its

Behaviour produces Outputs.

optimally.
(Products and Services)

A 2014 study conducted by the Korn Ferry

Institute, a world renowned executive search
firm, showed that competencies account for
between 43 to 64% of job performance. The
other factors are experience, disposition and
motivators.

4. RESULTS
How this is done yields results. Figure 1. Competencies Vis-à-vis
(Criteria managing the three prior steps) Results

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1.3 COMPETENCY MODELLING —WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

The interest in the use of competency models dates back to the early
1970s when the United States Department of State needed a more robust
tool to screen Junior Foreign Service Information Officers. The traditional
selection criteria, i.e., academic aptitude and knowledge, were poor
predictors of effectiveness as a Foreign Service Officer and were weeding
out too many minority candidates.

The US Department of State turned to eminent psychologist David

McClelland (often credited to have coined the term competency) and
his colleagues at a consulting firm MacBer and Company, to create an
alternative selection system. McClelland and his team first identified
characteristics that differentiated outstanding performers from average
performers by using nominations and ratings from superiors, peers and
clients. Next, they used behavioural event interviewing to get details of
how outstanding performers dealt with critical situations, either effectively

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or ineffectively. They then used content From this ground-breaking study,

analysis to process the data and cluster McClelland’s team developed a methodology
them into themes. These themes comprised that dominated the practice of competency
the competencies, which the researchers modelling for the next decade. While new
theorised as the determinants of superior approaches to competency modelling have
performance on the job (Spencer and been developed in recent years, lessons
Spencer, 1993). from their experience still hold true today.
These include the focus on outstanding
performers, use of behavioural event
interviews, thematic analysis of interview
data, and distillation of results into a
small set of competencies described in
behaviourally specific terms.

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1.4 WHAT ARE COMPETENCIES?

The earliest globally accepted definition of competencies was generated in
an international conference attended by several hundred human resource
development (HRD) practitioners in Johannesburg, South Africa in
October 1995. Synthesised from the suggestions of participants, the
definition of competencies forwarded was: “a cluster of related knowledge,
skills and attitudes (KSA) that affects a major part of one’s job (a role or a
responsibility), that correlated with performance on the job, that (1) can be
measured against well-accepted standards, and that (2) can be improved via
training and development.” (Parry, 1996).

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Following this definition, competencies

THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL can be viewed as a three-legged stool--
without one leg, this stool will not stand.
Hence a competency must have these three
components present (knowledge, skills, and
attitudes) for it to be considered complete
and effective.

One implication of this definition is

that competencies do not include those
characteristics that cannot be learned
through a learning and development
intervention. In recent years though,
the definition of competencies has been
expanded to include such elements as
Figure 2. A Metaphor for Competency
personality traits, social motives and values.
These elements are difficult to quantify,
and acquired over a person’s lifetime
rather than through discrete learning and
development events.

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This dilemma in definition was recognised by Dubois and Rothwell (2004). They pointed
out that one of the challenges of using competencies is that the term is often not clearly
and consistently understood. According to Dr. Rothwell (2014), “Every consulting firm
that works with competencies has a different definition, based on a different philosophy, of
competencies.”

For Dubois and Rothwell (2004) competencies DEFINITIONS

are “characteristics that individuals have and use in
A competency is a
appropriate, consistent ways in order to achieve desired combination of motives, traits,
performance.” These characteristics include knowledge, self-concepts, attitudes or values,
content knowledge or cognitive
skills, aspects of self-image, social motives, traits, thought behaviour skills. It refers to any
individual characteristic that can
patterns, mind-sets, and ways of thinking, feeling and be reliably measured or counted
acting. and that can be shown to
differentiate superior from
average performers. (Spencer, et
al, 1993) It also refers to
The more contemporary definition of competencies demonstrable characteristics of
consists of more than just KSAs but KSAOs. The “O” behaving, thinking and
generalizing across situations
stands for “other” things that lead to job success such as that enable him to do a job well.
those mentioned by Dubois-Rothwell (2004). Hence From DSWD Competency
competencies are sometimes equated or referred to as Model-Building Intervention

success factors.

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It is important to note that two distinctions, among

DEFINITIONS others, account for the many variations in the
understanding of competencies in organisations.
Competencies are observable,
measurable and vital knowledge,
Rothwell (2014) explained that for the British,
skill and attitudes which are trans- a competency is limited to knowledge, skills and
lation of capabilities deemed es-
sential for organisational success. attitudes; for the American, anything (attributable to

From CSC Competency Model

the performer) that leads to successful performance
Building Intervention and productivity is part of competency.

The concept of competency in the US is different from those used by the National
Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) of the United Kingdom. In the McBer or US approach to
competency identification, behavioural event interviewing is used, while the NVQ employs
functional analysis to arrive at competencies. Whereas the McBer approach is concerned
with identifying what exceptional performers do, the latter focuses on the functions involved
in particular jobs and the minimum standards of competence required for each (Parry,
1996).

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Given this divergence in definition of competencies, the first step to competency model-
building activity must be to agree on a common definition and be clear about what a
“competency” encompasses. (As a reference, a glossary of terms and suggested definitions
can be found on Annex 1.)

In this guidebook, the US perspective in competency modelling is

used. Focus will be made on identifying competencies that matter,
i.e., pinpointing the critical few competencies rather than generating a
laundry list of competencies that specify only the minimum acceptable
requirement for the job.

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1.5 SOME DISTINCTIONS: COMPETENCY VERSUS SKILL

When working with competencies, the difference between a “competency”

and a “skill” must be recognised. It is easy to assume that these are one and
the same, and thus use these interchangeably.

A skill is narrow in scope and activity-oriented (e.g., mopping the floor,

using a computer, and stocking merchandise). A competency is more
encompassing because it includes skills, knowledge, and the right attitude
that will predispose the person to perform well. For example, time
management is a competency. It consists of knowledge (how much an hour
of your time is worth, knowledge of time management strategies), skill (how
to use a planner, how to prioritise, how to negotiate and how to delegate)
and attitudes (doing everything is not as important as doing the 20 percent
that contributes to 80 percent to the organisation’s success.)

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Many training programs that focus only on teaching skills or the “how to’s” of a job seldom
achieve the desired on-the-job behavior change because the training fails to create the
proper mindset in the job holder to actually do what is required. Here is where attitude
change plays an important role to ensure that knowledge is indeed translated into action or
application.

Figure 3. A Cartoon on
Competency

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Remember that a competency only becomes a competency when it is manifested

behaviourally and cannot be just in the job holder’s head (something that the job holder
knows) or heart (something that the job holder intends to do.) For instance, an academician
who is an “expert” on leadership may not have the competence level of a successful leader
in an organisation despite his or her specialised knowledge of leadership concepts and
competencies. (This is demonstrated in the cartoon in Fig. 3.)

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1.6 COMPETENCIES VS. VALUES AND ETHICS

Another important distinction that needs to be made is that of
“competencies” versus “values” and “ethics.” Values influence the choices
and decisions that people make and the way they behave.

While it does affect the job holder’s effectiveness, it does not necessarily
lead to desired results and outcomes such as profitability.

Dr. Rothwell (2014) makes this point by saying, “I do not believe [that]
adherence to good values or good ethics necessarily leads to successful
performance. In fact, following the law--a good ethical practice--or else
following customer product warranties--a good values practice--can actually
limit performance and reduce profits.”

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Unlike competencies, values cannot be instilled in the

DEFINITIONS job holder by a short-term classroom intervention.
At best, the job holder’s attitude can be influenced.
Values are deeply held beliefs
about a specific mode of conduct Secondly, it is simply impossible to create proficiency
or end-state of existence that is levels when talking about values. A person either
personally and socially preferred
by an individual or organisation possesses the value or doesn’t.
such as integrity, trust, teamwork
and quality
For instance, “honesty” is a favorite value among
organisations. If we consider “honesty” as a
competency, does it follow that a person can have a
low, medium or high proficiency level of honesty?
Dr. Rothwell asserts that values equate to ethics and
morality, while competencies equate to productivity.

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It might be said that values is doing the right thing (based on the code of
ethics of the organisation), while competence is doing things right (based
on the competency models that have been drawn from characteristics of
exemplary performers). Hence competency modelling and values modelling
should be done separately.

Competencies and values must however come together at all times. In

the words of Dr. Rothwell (2014), “Competencies without values can be
dangerous.” While the process of values modelling is similar to competency
modelling (i.e., in both cases the goal is to translate values and competencies
to behavioural manifestations), values modelling begins with ethical dilemmas
rather than organisational results. The output of values modelling may be a
code of conduct for the organisation.

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JUST REMEMBER...
THE 3 C’S OF COMPETENCIES

1. COMBINATION of KSA and other attributes make up a

competency

2. CORRELATES with performance, i.e., it contributes to or

predicts performance.

3. CRITERION REFERENCE, i.e., competency must be

behavioural and observable so that it can be measured against
specific criteria or well-accepted standards

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APPRECIATING
THE BENEFITS
OF COMPETENCY
MODELLING
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FOR THE ORGANISATION 2.1

FOR THE MANAGER 2.2

FOR THE EMPLOYEE 2.3

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Competency modelling offers numerous advantages to the

organisation and its managers and employees. Its established
benefits have influenced organisations worldwide to make it
the foundation of their HR functions and programs.

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2.1 FOR THE ORGANISATION

• Provides an integrating framework for designing HR systems such as
recruitment and selection, learning and development, performance
management, talent management, succession planning and rewards
management (a.k.a., competency-based HR system)

• Aligns individual contribution to organisational goals since competency

models are anchored on strategic directions of the organisation

• Fosters a performance-driven culture as it defines what an average

job holder needs to do to attain superior performance, while it
provides behaviourally-anchored standards for recognising exemplary
performers.

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Any coordinated or strategic effort across talent

management efforts requires a lingua franca – a
common language. For strategic HR, the lingua
franca is competencies.

• Helps in planning and budgeting HR development in a more rational and

purposive way since critical competency gaps are systematically identified
and addressed

• When developing new positions, enables organisations to “begin with the

end in mind”, i.e., defining expected outputs and outcome from the job
rather than beginning with a list of tasks and activities.

• For succession planning, facilitates the selection and placement of

the best candidate or developing the right competencies of potential
successors to critical positions

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2.2 FOR THE MANAGERS

• Provides the foundation for sharpening their ability to select and hire
best fit candidates

• Provides more objective performance standards since competencies are

anchored on specific, measurable behaviours

o Enables managers to clearly communicate performance

expectations to staff
o Minimises subjectivity in assessing performance

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• Creates a solid platform for dialogue between managers and staff on

performance as well as development and career-related issues

• Guides managers in identifying staff development initiatives in a more

purposive and cost-effective manner

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2.3 FOR THE EMPLOYEES

• Clarifies success factors in their current roles enabling them to give
their best on the job

• For career planning, provides information on what it takes to move to

their targeted positions whether this is a lateral transfer or a promotion

• Empowers staff to proactively seek competency-development activities

(i.e., instead of just relying on the sponsorship of their leaders or the
organisation)

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UNDERSTANDING
JOB COMPETENCIES

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 CORE COMPETENCIES 3.1

FUNCTIONAL/TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES 3.2

LEADERSHIP/MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES 3.3

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MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

CORE COMPETENCIES

There are various ways to cluster or categorize job

competencies. A popular is to classify competencies as either
core, technical or managerial.

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3.1 CORE COMPETENCIES

These are characteristics that collectively lead to desired outcomes in
the organisation. Sometimes referred to as foundational competencies,
these consist of behaviours that everyone in the organisation must possess
regardless of function because they drive overall desired results. These

competencies directly support, and are

aligned with, the organisation’s strategic
goals. Core competencies are founded
DSWD
Core Competencies
on the organisation’s mission, vision,
• Collaborating and networking
and values including culture (the way • Commitment to social
development and protection
things are done in an organisation).
• Communicating effectively
They are unique to an organisation, and • Delivering excellent results
considered non-transferable. • Personal effectiveness
• Problem solving and decision
making
• Stewardship of resources

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Core competencies should not be confused with core

CSC competence, a term which was popularised by C.K.
Core Competencies
Prahalad and Gary Hamel in their 1990 Harvard
• Exemplifying integrity
Business review essay, “Core Competence of the
• Delivering service excellence
• Solving problems and Making Corporation.” Core competence captures the unique
Decisions factors that give organisations a distinct competitive
advantage. For instance, 3M is known for its substrates,
coatings and adhesive; Black and Decker is popular for
its small electric motors; Cannon for its laser printer
subsystems and Honda for its gasoline powered engines.

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Core competence is a characteristic

CSC ascribed to organisations while core
Organisational Competencies competencies are characteristics of
• Demonstrating personal individuals who work within it. Moreover,
effectiveness. core competence is more than the totality
• Managing information of all the individual competencies of
• Championing and the organisation’s employees because
applying innovation it includes the organisation’s systems,
• Writing effectively
technologies, routines, mechanisms and
• Speaking effectively
processes.
• Planning and delivering

Aside from core competencies, the Civil Service Commission identified a set of
organisational competencies. These are competencies required to perform similar
functions within CSC; and are expected of majority of positions in the organisation.
These competencies cannot be considered as core competencies though because not
everyone is required to possess them.

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3.2 FUNCTIONAL/TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

These are behaviours or abilities that pertain to a specific body of

knowledge and skills required to perform a function or job. It includes
abilities to use procedures, techniques and knowledge of a specialised field.
Functional competencies are linked to job roles and the way in which they
interact with other roles. These competencies may be transferable if a per-
son accepts a similar job in another organisation.

Each position has a unique set of functional and technical competencies.

A job family (a group of jobs in a common field, with the same or relatively
similar work performed) can have similar functional competencies. How-
ever, the required proficiency level becomes more complex as the position
rises in the hierarchy. (An example of an organisation’s functional and tech-
nical competencies is in Annex 2. DSWD Functional/Technical Competen-
cies ).

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3.3 MANAGERIAL/ LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

These are knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to perform management/

leadership functions and processes. These are expected of individuals who
supervise staff, or who work through others or a team to get the job done.

SKILLS

KNOWLEDGE BEHAVIOR
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MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

CORE COMPETENCIES

These three clusters of core, functional/technical,

managerial/leadership competencies usually make up
the competency model of an organisation

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CSC
Leadership Competencies

• Building commitment
A different school of thought in competency
• Developing people
modelling simply clusters competencies into • Partnering and networking
two: technical and behavioural. Technical • Managing performance
• Thinking strategically
competencies, a.k.a. hard competencies, • Leading change
pertain to those that are specific to the job. All • Coaching for results

other competencies not related to this specific

field of practice are considered behavioural
competencies, a.k.a., soft competencies. The DSWD
Managerial and
choice of how to cluster competencies will Leadership Competencies
depend on the organisation and the users
of the model. This is another fundamental • Leading change
• Leading people
decision point in competency modelling—how • Leading for results
competencies are to be categorised. • Building collaborative
partnerships

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DEVELOPING A
COMPETENCY MODEL

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 WHAT IS A COMPETENCY MODEL? 4.1

4.2
ELEMENTS OF A COMPETENCY MODEL

4.3
WHAT IS A COMPETENCY DICTIONARY?

PREPARING TO EMBARK ON A COMPETENCY 4.4

MODELING ACTIVIT Y

ASSESSING ORGANISATION READINESS 4.5

FOR COMPETENCY MODELLING
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4.1 WHAT IS A COMPETENCY MODEL?

A competency model is a written description of the competencies required
for successful or exemplary performance in a job category, work team,
work setting, profession, organisation or industry. It is the output of
analyses conducted to differentiate high performers from average and low
performers.

Competency models represent the most critical knowledge, skills, and

behaviours that drive successful performance. They are described in
behavioural terms, using behavioural indicators so that the competencies are
recognised when demonstrated.

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4.2 ELEMENTS OF A COMPETENCY MODEL

Competency models may take a variety of forms. However, a typical
competency model has the following elements:

PARTS OF A COMPETENCY MODEL

1 Competency 2 Competency
Title/ Name Definition
The name or title indicates the This is a brief general description of the
competency being described. competency, which provides the reader a
Others refer to this as broad understanding of the type of behaviour
competency label. expected of this competency.
Some examples: Leading
Change; Customer Focus;
Solving Problems and Making
Decisions; Managing Information

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EXAMPLE 1
COMPETENCY DEFINITION

LEADING CHANGE Ability to initiate and facilitate change and motivate

people to embrace it.

EXAMPLE 2
COMPETENCY DEFINITION

Ability to meet and exceed customer/client needs and

CUSTOMER FOCUS expectations.

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Some competency model builders use more rigorous definitions, which can be considered as
operational definitions of the competencies. The operational definition includes the critical
few tasks and outcomes required of the job holder. It may also state how output is produced
and its desired outcome, and may describe important contextual factors (e.g., technical
requirement, legal or statutory certification requirements, and customer or stakeholder
requirements) related to the acquisition of competencies.

EXAMPLE 1
COMPETENCY DEFINITION

TASK HOW IT’S DONE

Solving problems Ability to resolve
...by using

and making
deviations and exercise
fact-based analysis
good judgment

decisions
OUTCOME OUTPUT
...and generating
and selecting appropriate ...to produce

courses of action positive results

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EXAMPLE 2
COMPETENCY DEFINITION

Customer Focus TASK OUTPUT

Ability to meet ...by consistently
customer needs and adhering to and/or
expectations exceeding service standard

HOW IT’S DONE OUTCOME

...ensuring positive ...thereby developing and
feedback on customer sustaining productive
satisfaction customer relationships

Whether to use a general definition or an operational definition of the competency is a

matter of style and philosophy of the competency model builder. Of course the more
specific the definition, the clearer the competency is communicated to all users.

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DIAGRAM OF THE MODEL

Typically, the model or its summary is represented visually in graphical
form. This helps users to grasp quickly its key features. It can range from a
simple two-dimensional diagram to an elaborate three-dimensional drawing.
Following are some sample competency models in graphical format.

TECHNICAL Figure 4 is an example of a

SKILLS
role competency model. This
PERSONAL role is for the HR strategic
ATTRIBUTES
partner competency.
TEAM AND
LEADERSHIP, BUSINESS
INTERPERSONAL ACUMEN

GENWORTH VALUES
Figure 4. HR Strategic Partner Competency Model

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The PSTD WLP ORGANISATIONAL

Competency Framework • Management of the Learning

Function
• Knowlegde movement
• Career and Talent Management
Organisational • Business Performace and
TECHNICAL Improvement Technology

• Measurement and Evaluation

• Learning Design PERSONAL
• Learning Delivery WLP • Self Mastery
• Learning Admin • Social, Legal, and
• Learning Technology
Literacy Technical Personal Ethical Practives
• Relationship
Management

Figure 5. Workplace Learning and Performance

(WLP) Professional Competency Model

The second example in Figure 5 is a competency model for the workplace learning and
performance professional, the field formerly known as training and development. This was
developed by the Philippine Society for Training and Development (PSTD), the professional
association of trainers and HRD practitioners in the Philippines.

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UK Civil Service Setting

Competency Model Direction

CIVIL SERVICE VALUES

DELIVERING ENGAGING
RESULTS PEOPLE

The third example is the Competency Model of the UK Civil

Service. Just like the WLP Competency Framework, it consists
of three clusters and at the centre of the model is the Civil
Service Values.

Figure 6. UK Civil Service Competency Model

There are no hard and fast rules in creating the diagram of a competency model, except that
it should facilitate the understanding of the model at a glance. It should readily show the
relationship of the various competencies or competency clusters to one another. The more
competencies in the model, the more elaborate the diagram.

Some competency model builders may opt to do away with a diagram altogether.

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COMPETENCY RUBRIC/PROFICIENCY LEVELS

A rubric is an explicit set of criteria used for assessing a
particular type of work or performance. It articulates in
progressing order the quality of each criterion, from the
simplest manifestation of desired behaviours to the most
complex. A rubric may also include work and performance
samples that typify each of the level.

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SOME OF THE MAJOR CRITERIA OR

DIMENSIONS TO DETERMINE PROGRESSION
LEVELS OF COMPETENCIES ARE:
1 INTENSITY of the intention involved or completeness
of action taken to carry out an intention
2 COMPLEXITY in taking more things, people, data,
concepts or causes into account
3 TIME HORIZON in seeing further into the future,
and planning or taking action based on anticipation of
future situations
4 BREADTH OF IMPACT on the number and
position people affected; or the size of the problem
addressed

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OTHER DIMENSIONS TO DETERMINE

PROGRESSION LEVELS OF
COMPETENCIES INCLUDE:
1 SCOPE - The range of responsibilities; from narrow and related
to broad variety of responsibilities; the degree to which
variability of task assignments is present (i.e., from similar tasks in
a narrow environment to great variability in a broad work environment)
2 CONTEXT - The environment in which the job responsibilities
are completed and carried out, from a wide variety of environments
to narrowly defined work context
3 AUTONOMY - The level of supervison received and the amount of
decision making power

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These are by no means the only criteria that may be used. Likewise, not all criteria may apply to a competency
at the same time. The model builder must decide which of these criteria are most relevant to the type of work
being assessed.

Here is an example of how competency levels are created based on rubrics:

Ability to meet client needs and expectations by consistently adhering to and/or

Customer focus: exceeding service standards ensuring positive feedback on customer satisfaction
thereby developing and sustaining productive customer relationships.

Rubrick Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Intensity: the Strives to Strives to Strives to exceed Strives to

intention involved consistently meet consistently meet service standards consistently exceed
or completeness service standards. and sometimes all the time. service standards
of action taken exceed service and anticipates
to carry out an standards. clients’ upcoming
intention needs and
concerns.

Complexity: Responds to simple Responds to Responds to Responds to all

intricacy of service client concerns complex clients all types of types of client issues
provided to the in a friendly and concern in a client issues and concerns in a
client. courteous manner; courteous and and concerns timely, professional,
refers challenging friendly manner; in a timely, helpful and
client situation and refers professional, courteous manner,
to immediate challenging helpful and regardless of client
superior. client situations courteous manner, attitude; provides
to immediate regardless of client clients with tips
superior. attitude. and advice to avoid
these issues and
concerns from
recurring

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Autonomy: Addresses client Addresses Addresses client Addresses

Degree to which concerns with the client concerns concerns without client concerns
job holder is use of job aid and with limited use of job aid and independently
able to work under supervision reference to job supervision and recommends
independently aid and minimal innovative
supervision approaches to
better address client
concerns

Rubrics are also used for the purpose of producing assessment tools that are more
descriptive than a single holistic rating or judgment. Instead of merely stating that an
individual is “very good” or “outstanding” (highly subjective), a rubric-based competency
model describes the quality of work in one or more dimensions.

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For example, one criterion that can be used for determining competency levels is the degree
of autonomy the job holder is able to exercise on the job. At the most rudimentary level
perhaps the job holder can manifest the behaviour with close supervision, following a job aid.
At the next level, the job holder can manifest the behaviour with minimal supervision and
occasional reference to a job aid. At a more advanced level, the job holder can do the job
independently (i.e., without supervision) or without the use of a job aid. At the highest level,
the job holder can manifest the behaviour independently and can improvise and innovate to
do the job faster, with better quality and at less cost.

The rubrics thus provide concrete parameters in developing a proficiency matrix or table,
which reflects progressive levels of mastery in particular behaviours or areas of work under
a competency. A set of rubrics that is generated through consultation and agreed upon by
key stakeholders in the organisation is a prerequisite for the development of proficiency
levels. (Please refert to Annex 3. Sample Rubrics.)

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PROFICIENCY LEVELS
Proficiency levels serve several purposes. They facilitate
comparison of jobs and roles in terms of competency LEVEL4
requirements and proficiency levels needed using
a common incremental scale. For example, oral
communication skills may be a requirement for most entry-
level jobs as well as for executive levels. However, the degree
of oral communication proficiency needed at these two
LEVEL3
levels may be quite different. This information is necessary
input to the organisation’s selection, hiring and placement
system.

LEVEL 2
Proficiency levels also facilitate performance planning and
management as performance indicators are clearly spelled
out. Moreover, they help in planning, implementing and
tracking development of job holders along mastery levels
within current or future roles or jobs. LEVEL 1

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The number of proficiency levels to use is decided upon by the competency model builder
and users depending on the purpose and practicality. It can range from three to five levels.
Beyond five, the difference between levels may be hair-splitting and no longer useful.
Considering the number of competencies to be measured, the use of four levels reflect best
practice for ease of monitoring, evaluation and use, while maintaining progression across
levels. Besides, in assessing competency, an even numbered scale prevents occurrence of
statistical central tendencies (where ratings cluster around middle values of the scale).

When the parameters of the competency levels have been agreed upon by the users,
a competency table can now be developed. (Please see example in Annex 4. Sample
Competency Table of CSC)

Here are some examples of labels for proficiency scales, assuming a four-point scale where
Level 1 is Threshold level and Level 4 is Superior Performance level:

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Beginner Capable Competent Exemplar
Novice Developing Accomplished Superior
Basic Intermediate Advanced Master
Apprentice Associate Practitioner Expert

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One convenient way of expressing these gradations is to use descriptive terms with the acronym
BIAS: B (Basic), I (intermediate), A (Advanced) and S (Superior).

The choice of qualitative labels is again a matter of style and usefulness. Some model
builders even disregard qualitative descriptions and just adopt level numbers, as the quality
of the behavioural indicators is more important than the labels. It is even possible that after
validation, the number of proficiency levels for specific competencies will be reduced, as
stakeholders fail to see the distinction between levels, as in the case of a competency being
either present or absent only.

For instance, in the case of the WLP Competency Framework of PSTD, two competencies
(i.e., self-mastery, and ethical, legal and social practices) proved to have only one level after
validation with stakeholders from various sectors., The gradation initially developed for the
two competencies was not perceptible to WLP practitioners and therefore meaningless.
Validation is thus a crucial step in developing proficiency levels.

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BEHAVIOURAL INDICATORS
A behavioural indicator is a statement of what can
be observed from an individual manifesting the
competency. It provides objective evidence that the
individual possesses the competency, and shows what
effective performance looks like.

Behavioural indicators may be stated as a manifested

behaviour or a “missing” behaviour. However, most
model builders opt to express behavioural indicators
in the affirmative to facilitate understanding among
users. Following are examples:

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EXAMPLE 1
COMPETENCY DEFINITION

Personal
Maintains effective behaviour in challenging situations having the
resilience to bounce back in the face of setbacks; demonstrating
a strong desire to advance oneself and one’s career, propelled by
Effectiveness confidence and belief in one’s capacities, and tempered by honesty and
integrity in one’s undertaking.

SAMPLE BEHAVIOURAL INDICATORS

• Able to overcome obstacles within his/her area of control and takes responsibility for results
of own action (manifested behaviour); does not blame others (missing behaviour)
• Avoids transactions and interactions that exposes himself/herself to personal gain or conflict
of interest (missing behaviour)

EXAMPLE 2
COMPETENCY DEFINITION

Customer
Ability to meet customer needs and expectations by consistently
adhering to and/or exceeding service standards ensuring positive
feedback or customer satisfaction thereby developing and sustaining
Focus productive customer relationships.

SAMPLE BEHAVIOURAL INDICATORS

• Acts to prevent problems, reporting issues where necessary (manifested behaviour)
• Avoids overpromising service delivery to clients (missing behaviour)

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Not all behavioural indicators that are generated and captured in the competency table may
be applicable to a job or role. They are simply sample behaviours and are by no means an
exhaustive list nor meant to be used as a behavioural checklist. Rather it is an indicator to
help guide assessment of competence.

Behavioural indicators should be measurable or at least verifiable. Hence, verbs such as

“know,” “understand,” and “appreciate,” which are not observable should not be used.
Instead of saying “understands the latest trends in…,” express this in a way that would prove
that the person indeed keeps abreast of the trend through actions like “reads the latest
journals on …,” “attends conference/conducts internet research to update oneself on…,”
Examples of acceptable action verbs for use in behavioural indicators are found in Annex 5.

Following is a formula for stating behavioural

indicators:
Behavioural indicators =
action verb + object + qualifier or criterion

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Example of a well-stated behavioural indicator:

EXAMPLE 1
COMPETENCY EXAMPLE OF A WELL-STATED BEHAVIOURAL INDICATOR

Describes and distinguishes data or information that is

Managing relevant to the job and the value these brings to one’s
Information functional role, group or the organisation.

EXAMPLE 2
COMPETENCY EXAMPLE OF A WELL-STATED BEHAVIOURAL INDICATOR

Customer Follows up with clients during and after delivery of

services to ensure that their needs have been met
Focus

LEGEND: Action Verb

Object

Qualifier, Criterion

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IN SUMMARY, THE CHARACTERISTICS OF

AN IDEAL BEHAVIOURAL INDICATOR ARE
AS FOLLOWS:
1 Concrete and specific behaviours that are observable, verifiable and
must lend themselves to measurement
2 Illustrate what a person does, as if the competency has already been
acquired
3 Can be taught or altered through training, coaching and other
development strategies

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A COMPETENCY MODEL THEREFORE MUST HAVE

ALL THESE ELEMENTS FOR CONCRETENESS,
COMPLETENESS AND ACCURACY:
Competency title/name
Competency definition
Diagram of the model
Competency rubric/proficiency levels

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Simply stated, a competency model is like a behavioural description of outstanding

performance in a job or role. Good practice in competency modelling limits the number
of competencies to critical competencies that set apart an exemplary performer from an
average performer. Having too many (more than 15) competencies in the model may render it
unrealistic for purposes of recruitment as it may be difficult to find someone with the
complete set of desired characteristics. At the same time, a long list of competencies for
development purposes may diffuse the manager’s focus in enhancing the job holder’s
competencies. Instead of acquiring a few critical competencies that make a difference on
the job, the manager might attempt
to develop a number of competencies
that are not that critical to
outstanding performance.

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4.3 WHAT IS COMPETENCY DICTIONARY?

A competency dictionary is a compilation of various competencies needed
in an organisation. Organisations that go into full blown competency
modelling usually create a competency dictionary that puts together in
one document the competencies needed across the different units of the
organisation.

The competency dictionary provides a common and ready reference for HR

and other users (e.g., line managers and supervisors) during the installation
and implementation of competency-based HR systems. For instance, a
manager can review the competency definitions and behavioural indicators
before interviewing a job applicant; or a training program designer can refer
to the dictionary when conduting learning needs analysis and designing a
program.

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A competency dictionary is a dynamic or living document. It has to be continuously updated

to reflect any addition, deletion or modification made in existing competencies.
HR has the responsibility for ensuring that it is always updated and that all changes are
communicated to users.

To facilitate updating, one good practice in packaging the competency dictionary is to

indicate the date when each competency is originally developed, and to date any
revisions well. The use of a ring binder is preferred over permanent binding so that
pages can be readily added .

Example of a competency dictionary may be seen in Annex 6. Excerpt from DSWD

Competency Dictionary.

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PREPARING TO EMBARK ON A COMPETENCY

4.4
MODELLING ACTIVITY
There are preliminary steps to follow before embarking on a competency
modelling activity whether this is at the level of the unit or the organisation.
These come in the form of decisions that the organisation need to
make before launching a competency building initiative. (Adapted from
unpublished toolkit entitled, “Competency Modelling: A How-to-Do-It
Guide,” By William J. Rothwell, 2005.)

FOLLOWING ARE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER:

1 Who will be the focus of attention?
For whom is this competency model going to be developed? Is it for a specific job,
a job family, occupational group, a role (e.g., leadership), or for the entire
organisation?

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2 What is the business/institutional reason for competency

identification and modelling effort?
Why does the organisation want to embark on a competency modelling
activity? Who are the stakeholders who care about it? How will they be involved in
it or communicated with?

3 What level of competence will be the focus?

Decide if the focus will be minimally acceptable competence level or the best-in-
class, most productive performer competence level.

4 When (over what time frame) will the competency model cover?
Decide if the competency model will focus on the present or future requirements
of the organisation. Will it describe successful performers as they exist in the
organisation at present, or describe what kind of people and what characteristics
will be needed in the future, if the organisation’s strategic objectives are to be
realised?

5 How will the competency model to be used?

The two basic uses of a competency model are (1) for development; and (2) for a
broader range of HR functions such as recruitment, performance management,
career management, talent management. It is critical to clarify the intended
applications of the model. A simpler and less costly and time consuming process
for model building may be adopted if this is just to be used for development
purposes. If the model were to be used for multiple purposes though, a more
rigorous process must be followed for higher predictive validity.

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6 How will the competency model be developed?

Three options for competency modelling approaches are:
• BUY
• BUY-and-MODIFY
• BORROW -and-MODIFY
• BUILD

There are competency models for specific jobs, roles or job families that that are
available in the market. These are mostly developed by HR and management
consulting groups. This is the fastest way to “develop” a competency model, and
may be appropriate if the job is generic in nature, regardless of industry or sector.
However, these competency model packages are proprietary and generally costly,
and may not exactly fit the organisation’s unique context and specific challenges.
At some point, the organisation may have to do some modification or customisation
(BUY-and-MODIFY), subject to proprietary limitations. Another option is
adopting and adapting competency models from non-proprietary sources. There
are competency models that can be downloaded from the Internet, which can be
tailor-fitted to the organisation. There are also organisations that are willing to share
their competency models; or develop competency models for deployment to target
clients (e.g., PSTD and CSC). While borrowing and modifying is less costly and less
rigorous, organisations that opt for this should ensure that competency models are
reviewed and modified to suit unique requirements of the organisation, and validated
with critical stakeholders.

The most rigorous approach is the BUILD approach and is best if the competency
models are to be applied to a variety of HR systems. It takes more time and resources

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to accomplish, though. (The BUILD approach is discussed in the succeeding

chapters.)

7 How much time, money, staff and other resources is the

organisation willing to dedicate to the competency modelling
process?
If sufficient resources to do competency model building exists in the organisation,
then doing it in-house may be best. Internal staff might find working with a coach
or a consultant helpful to avoid pitfalls and mistakes of model building when
embarking on the activity for the first time.

8 Who are the key role players in a competency

modelling initiative?
The organisation’s HR office or HR officer usually takes the lead in competency
modelling, and is referred to as the competency model builder. Sometimes, the
organisation may opt to form a core team as in the case CSC and DSWD of
representatives from various units and levels to assist the HR office in the process.
A team thus becomes the competency model builder.

Top management, line managers/supervisors and job holders are also key role
players in competency modelling. Top management legitimises the process
by issuing necessary communication to the organisation; it also approves the
final output before it is rolled out for use of the different units. Line mangers/
supervisors and job holders are all key informants during data gathering and
validation activities.

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4.5 ASSESSING ORGANISATION READINESS

FOR COMPETENCY MODELLING
Having answered the eight questions, the competency model builder needs
to take another step to increase the chances of success of launching the
competency modelling effort. This step is designed to assess the readiness
of the organisation to embrace the idea of competencies and to support
the competency identification, modelling and assessment activities. This is
crucial because stakeholders will be heavily involved in the data gathering,
analysis and validation thus their cooperation is highly essential.

An assessment tool found in Annex 7 (Assessing Readiness for Competency

Identification, Modelling and Assessment) designed by Dr. Rothwell helps
to alert the competency model builder on potential problems that can be
encountered in the aspects of management awareness and organisation
culture. The results of this assessment will indicate areas where initial work
need to be directed to raise acceptance levels and broaden cooperation in
the competency identification activity.

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In preparing the organisation for competency modelling and eventually moving towards
competency-based HR, it is recommended that attention is paid to preparing for the
change and the change process that individuals, units, and the organisation will experience.

The CSC has developed a Change Management Framework (Four Cs of Change) that can
be used as a guide in developing a change management plan for this purpose.

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THE CHANGE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

HAS FOUR STAGES OR PHASES:
1 Committing to Change. The goal is to create critical support for
the change process in the organisation. This includes highlighting the
need for change and establishing a shared vision of what the future (e.g.,
competency-based HR) can be.

2 Capacitating for Change. The goal is to prepare individuals and the

organisation to embrace and operate under the desired future state. This
may take the form of orientation and learning sessions for indviduals and
units who will use the competency models.

3 Contributing/Collaborating for Change. The goal is to ensure that all

key stakeholders who will be invovled in leading and executing the change,
and the people who would be affected by the change, are on board.

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This phase may be done in a one-time implementation or through a series

of implementation stage.

Celebrating/Continuing Change. The goal is to give individuals and

4
the organisation as a whole a sense of confidence that they can move from
the present to the desired state. An important element of this dimension is
planning for institutionalisation (e.g., embedding the competency models in
HR systems and processes) and continuous improvement.

Other change management models may be adopted by the organisation. The bottom-line
is to ensure that there is broad support and buy-in for the change and the change process;
people who would be affected by the change are involved and capacitated to carry out the
change; and there are mechanisms for sustaining the change and the benefits that will be
derived from this.

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5
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IDENTIFYING
COMPETENCIES

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 THE STARTING POINT

PROCESSES AND APPROACHES IN IDENTIFYING
VARIOUS T YPES OF COMPETENCIES

DATA GATHERING METHODS

CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHOOSING
THE DATA GATHERING METHODS

SOURCES OF DATA

DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF
DATA SOURCES FOR INTERVIEWS AND FGDs

SELECTING A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE

DATA ANALYSIS

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5.1 THE STARTING POINT

Competency identification can focus on a specific role, job, a job family,
an organisation, an occupation or an industry. This guidebook is designed
for organisations, and will cover issues and processes involved in developing
competency models of an organisation.

There are two possible places to start when developing competency models
for an organisation, i.e., starting small (bottom-up) or starting big (top-
down). The main consideration in choosing between the two is the purpose
for which the competency model is being developed.

When an organisation needs to focus on developing a competency model for

critical roles, jobs or job families, it can start just from there. This is mainly
useful for recruitment and development purposes specifically for that role,
job or job family. Starting small is also the way to go when creating a com-
petency models for newly created positions in the organisation.

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For an organisation’s first attempt at com-

petency modelling, starting small allows pilot
testing of the process within a more man-
ageable area (e.g., one job or one job family).
Hence completion of the cycle is faster.
Even when doing small scale competency
modelling though, the organisation’s mission,
Pilot Testing vision and strategic goals remain to be the
0.
1.06
4
2
8
foundation.

After developing the initial competen-

cy model, the organisation may decide to
create competency models for other jobs
or job families; then the process is iterat-
ed depending on the number of jobs to be
covered. This is called the bottom-up design
STARTS WITH ONE JOB FAMILY
approach. One possible downside of this
approach, however, is ending up with too
many competencies, some of which may not
be directly supportive of the organisation’s
thrusts. It is therefore the competency
model builder’s lookout to ensure
alignment and harmonisation of the different
...ADAPT TO OTHER JOBS! competency models that are developed.

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When the aim of the organisation is to move

towards competency-based HR management,
it becomes imperative to launch a full-scale,
top-down competency modelling project,
such as those that the CSC and the DSWD
embarked on. The recommended approach
for organisation-wide competency modelling
is the Build Approach. The greatest
advantage of this top-down approach is the
clear alignment of competency models with Completion of a competency model-
the organisation’s goals and strategies. Like- ling project using the top-down approach
wise, it is easier for everyone in the organ- will however take longer time (i.e., several
isation to be in-sync with the competen- months) considering the desired broad-
cy-based HR systems once installed. based participation. It will also require com-
mitment of substantial resources especially if
the organisation consists of hundreds of jobs
and thousands of employees. If in-house
capability is not available to carry out the
project, the organisation will need outside
help and therefore additional resources for
the project.

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PROCESSES AND APPROACHES IN IDENTIFYING

5.2
VARIOUS TYPES OF COMPETENCIES
Core
When identifying core competencies the Build Approach (as against Buy/
Borrow, Borrow-and-Modify, or Buy-and-Modify), is the most appropriate
since the organisation is a unique entity that exists in a specific environment.
The process of identifying core competencies begins with a review of the
organisation’s culture, mission, vision, values and overall goals and strategies.
Key questions to ask include:

1. What does the organisation hope to achieve? What are the critical
organisational results? What are the primary drivers of success?

2. Where is the organisation headed? What are its short-term, mid-

term, and long -term plans?

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3. Given these, what competencies should members of the organisation

possess to help achieve these goals and objectives? What competencies
do employees need to demonstrate to carry out the mission and strategic goals of
the organisation?

Answers to these questions need to be drawn from as many stakeholders as possible (i.e.,
representatives from all levels of the organisation, and even clients and other critical
external stakeholders). Data gathering and validation can be done through workshops, key
informant interviews or focus group discussions.

Technical or
“The best competency
Functional
models are corporate For technical or functional competencies, all

(organisation)
approaches to competency modelling (Buy,
Buy-and-Modify, Borrow-and-Modify, and

culture specific.”
Build) may be used. The Build
Approach, however, is still the best way to
-Dubois, 2004, pp. 244
develop a competency model that responds
precisely to the needs of the organisation.

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MANAGERIAL/LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

In identifying competencies of managers/leaders of the organisation the

Competency Menu Method can be a good option because of the many
well-researched management and leadership competency models that are
available. The key to choosing the appropriate menu of competencies is
to carefully consider the peculiarities of the environment and culture of
the organisation since the success of a manager or a leader rests on many
factors found in the context of the leadership situation. (The Civil Service
Commission has developed a set of leadership competencies, which may be
customised to the unique context of public sector organisations.)

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Following is a summary of various data gathering methods for functional competency modelling:

METHOD PROCESS Advantages Disadvantages

Direct Observation • Job holder asked to perform a • Not costy to • Not suitable for
number of tasks implement and not observing mental
time consuming. processes
• Observers record the tasks being
performed. • Provides a pic- • Subject to
ture of observable observer error
elements

Critical Incident • Job holders, supervisors or other • Surfaces be- • Requires long
relevant persons (e.g., team mem- haviours unique to data collection
Technique bers) are interviewed and asked to the job process as it is
cite job incidents depicting effective repeated many
and ineffective performance • Helps clarify times to cover a
job context or representative
• Interviewer ensures that situation that calls number of job
informant/s describe context of for demonsrta- holders
the incident, specific behaviours tion of specific
displayed, and the outcome behaviours • Highly
dependent on the
• Involves gathering behavioural • Involves key competency of
evidences that will pin down and individuals in the the interviewer
distinguish superior from average process to surface and
performers distinguish effec-
tive and ineffective
behaviours

Job Competency • A competency assessment • Data can be • Tends to focus

Assessment team is formed and tasked to collected in an ef- on job functions
identify competency require- fective manner and overlook
Method (JCAM) ments personal attributes
• Useful in identi-
• Team conducts interviews to fying functions of • May take some
identify attributes of outstanding individual jobs time to generate
performers an outcome
• Data is used to develop a
competency model which is
validated with an expert panel

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METHOD PROCESS Advantages Disadvantages

Competency Menu • A well-researched competency • Less costly than • Validity and
Method menu is chosen JCAM reliability depends
largely on how
• Competencies necessary for • Less time updated and how
the role or job being assessed are consuming comprehensive the
selected from the menu competency menu
• Competencies are modified or being used is
customised to unique context or • Requires more
culture of the organisation rigorous validation
with job holder and
other stakeholders
to ensure relevance

Expert Panels • A panel of in-house experts • May give the • May be chal-
and others who have superior process legitimacy lenging to bring
knowledge of the job is formed and credibility together a panel
within the of experts
• Panel observes job holder organisation
perform tasks and identifies com- • Tendency
petencies relevant to the job • Suitable to larger to miss out on
organisations certain competen-
• Panel prioritises competencies cies that are not
to identify the critical few demonstrated
by the job holder
during time of
observation

A combination of methods is recommended when identifying competencies. For instance,

the competency model builder may choose to use JCAM for the initial competency data
gathering and tap expert panels to validate the data.

For more techniques in competency modelling using the Build Approach, please refer to Annex 8.

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5.3 DATA GATHERING METHODS

1
OBSERVATION
This method is especially useful for jobs that involve performing tasks that can be physically
observed; for instance, a customer service representative. The more complex and varied
the job tasks, the longer the time needed to gather data using observation. Sometimes it is
necessary to observe average and low performer to provide basis for comparison.

For most professional and managerial jobs however, observation is impractical, because
critical behaviours are unlikely to occur during a limited observation period. Likewise,
observation is not appropriate for jobs that require mental work as this is hardly seen in
action.

2
INTERVIEW
When interviewing high performers, a specific type of technique used is behaviour event
interviewing (BEI). This allows the competency model builder to gather behaviours
that lead to outstanding performance using an interactive process. Top performers are
interviewed about what they did, thought, said, and felt in challenging or difficult situations.

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The competencies that were instrumental to their success are culled from the stories.

Other key informants may include the job holder’s immediate superior. Sometimes, clients
and experts in the field are also interviewed to augment or validate data from job holders.

One drawback of BEI is the amount of time and effort required to process the interview
data. Its effectiveness is also hinged on
the interviewer’s level of competence in
interviewing and data analysis. But BEI, like
“targeted interviewing” is anchored on the
principle that “present and past behavior
predicts future behavior.”

3 SURVEY
This method entails the use of a
questionnaire to collect data.
Structured questions with pre-determined menu of responses is used in surveys. The key
to developing a good questionnaire is to keep it short while ensuring that it captures the
needed data.. Sometimes a survey is used to validate responses from interviews or focus
group discussion (or conversely, interviews and focus group discussions may be used to
validate survey data).

Survey is the fastest way to gather the greatest amount of data in the shortest possible
time. However, survey form retrieval can sometimes be a challenge. Data consolidation and
analysis may also be tedious especially when a survey invovles a large number of job holders.

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4
FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION
This method offers the advantage of getting collective inputs directly from job holders or
their managers in one session. It likewise offers the opportunity to immediately clarify
responses in a face-to-face situation. Using a prepared protocol of questions to guide a
structured discussion, data on effective work behaviour is obtained. Towards the end of the
session, consensus on critical competencies for job success is facilitated.

When this method is used for validation, data previously collected through other methods
(e.g., survey or interviews) are presented to the group for discussion and confirmation.

A series of focus groups is often conducted to allow many people in the organisation
to provide input. The use of FGD requires a competent facilitator who can manage
the process, and a documenter who will record and synthesise data and perspectives of
participants.

5
DOCUMENT ANALYSIS/LITERATURE REVIEW
This method collects data from available written materials that contain details of a particular
job. These include job descriptions and other documents that capture performance
indicators, decision challenges, risk factors and other descriptors of the job’s duties and
requirements.

Job descriptions that are used for competency identification have to be up-to-date
to ensure validity of competencies. It must be noted though that job decriptions have
limitation if used to identify competencies needed by the organisation in the future.

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Documents that are useful for core competency identification include vision and mission
statements, and strategic plan or strategy maps.

Completed performance appraisal forms, especially those that use behaviourally-anchored

ratings are documents that help in distinguishing outstanding performance.

Literature review is part of document analysis and is useful when existing competency
models are available. It gives a quick overview of what has been done in the area of interest
of the competency study and may provide a preliminary list of competencies to consider.
The literature review supplements, but does not replace, other data collection methods.

6 BENCHMARKING
Benchmarking is learning from the experience of others. Competency model builders from
one organisation can benchmark with other similar organisations. The experience of other
organisations is a rich source of scenarios, standards, lessons and best practices.

(Both CSC and DSWD conducted benchmarking studies to identify leading practices in
competency modelling as well as lessons from the workplace. They did this with private and
public sector organisations both here and abroad.)

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ALWAYS MORE THAN ONE METHOD

Every data collection method has its strengths and limitations. It is thus
good practice to apply a second data gathering method (or even multiple
methods) to validate and triangulate the results of an initial data gathering
method. Multiple methods can also ensure that a competency is not missed
out altogether.

If the resulting data obtained from one method is similar to the data
collected in another, there is greater credibility and greater assurance that
required competencies have been accurately identified. The use of multiple
methods provides the competency model builder greater confidence about
the accuracy, validity and completeness of the competencies identified.

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5.4 CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHOOSING

THE DATA GATHERING METHODS
According to Marrelli, Tondora, and Hoge (2005) some factors that may be
considered for the choice of data gathering methods are:

Validity
Is there evidence that a particular method will more accurately reflect the
required competencies for the job or role being studied?

Reliability
Will the method provide reliable data, such that similar results would be
obtained when repeatedly applied or administered?

Application
How will the identified competencies be applied? When the competencies
will be used in hiring, promotion, evaluation, or compensation of employees,
more evidence for the validity of the method is required than for
development, strategic workforce planning, or recognition programs.

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Efficiency
How much time and other resources will the method require in instrument
development, administration, and analysis of results?

Practicality
Will the method be practical given the constraints of the project, such as the
budget or the geographical dispersion or staggered schedules of job holders?

Acceptance
Will the job holders, managers, and other stakeholders in the study
accept the method as a reasonable way to collect data? Are they likely to
participate and cooperate with this method?

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5.5
SOURCES OF DATA
Regardless of data gathering method/s used, the quality
of data on competency requirements is dependent on the
composition and number of sources . Job holders and their
managers are the most logical sources of data : Other data
sources are HR staff, senior leaders, holders of similar jobs,
external consultants, team members/supervised staff, and
external customers. At least three data sources should be
tapped, though the more sources of data, the greater the buy-
in and the more comprehensive and accurate competency
identification becomes.

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DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF DATA

SOURCES FOR INTERVIEWS AND FGDS

When choosing key informants for competency

identification, it is helpful to include those with strong
analytical and verbal abilities. Their participation can
facilitate articulation of many of the competencies needed
to perform a job or role that are not readily apparent or
explicit.

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Analytical Verbal

Likewise, sources who have observed or experienced interacting with job holders who have
demonstrated exemplary as well as ineffective performance can contribute in pinning down
critical attributes or behavioural indicators of competencies.

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SELECTING A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE

For large organisations, selecting a representative sample of data sources

is critical. The accuracy of the data collected about competencies will
depend heavily on how closely the sample represents the population of
interest. The high performers, their managers or supervisors, and others
selected should be proportionately similar to the entire population in terms
of job responsibilities, functional area, tenure, ethnicity, gender, geographic
location, and other characteristics relevant to the job. If a competency
study addresses several job levels, it is necessary to ensure that the sample
includes job holders from all levels.

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5.6
DATA ANALYSIS

Data gathered may range from roles and outputs, job behaviours, to
the competencies themselves, depending on what data collection method
was used. The next step after data collection is making sense of the data.
Many competencies may be generated but only a handful will be significant.
To narrow the list, similar competencies are merged and filtered into
categories. The filtering could be carried out through common themes,
relevance, progressive development and elements.

Competencies may be grouped into various clusters depending on specific

pattern or organisational thrusts (e.g., Managing the Self, Managing
Relationships, Managing People, Managing Work). These clusters distinguish
and group similar themes under each category. A cluster/ theme title is also
chosen to best describe or represent the competencies belonging to the
cluster.

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VALIDATING JOB COMPETENCY MODEL

Validating competencies identified from initial data gathering means

verifying with stakeholders if indeed the competencies reflect what a
successful job holder must possess. Sometimes this means going back to the
same set of respondents from the first data gathering activity or getting a
new set of respondents of a similar profile to confirm the findings, or both.

Validation happens at the level of competencies identified as well as at the

behaviours that define these competencies. For each item, these questions
must be answered:

• Is this behaviour demonstrated by people who

perform the work most effectively? In other words,
are people who don’t demonstrate this behaviour
ineffective in the role?

• Is this behaviour relevant and necessary for

effective work performance?

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Often, these questions are asked in the form of a survey or an FGD. It is important to look
for consensus among the people doing the job, as well as areas where there could be little
agreement. It is also important to watch out for possible issues with language, or the way the
competencies are described. The validation stage is a good time to refine the language.

For actual experiences in competency modelling, please refer to the journey that CSC and
DSWD took in recent years found in Annex 9.

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CREATING JOB/
POSITION COMPETENCY
PROFILES

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COMPETENCY-BASED JOB DESCRIPTION 6.1

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6.1 COMPETENCY-BASED JOB DESCRIPTION

As a result of the competency study, a job or position competency profile can be created.
This profile captures the competency frame and levels of proficiency that are required
for successful job performance for each job in the organisation. The different layers or
types of competencies incorporated within the Job Competency Profile will be dictated
by the competency framework of the organisation. It may include core, organisational
competencies (in the case of CSC), and technical competencies (job families/job-specific),
and for higher level positions,
leadership competencies.

Best practice organisations limit

the number of competencies
in each profile to around 12-
15 critical competencies. For
example, an organisation might
choose to have 14 competencies
per profile: 3 core competencies, Figure 7. Sample Competency Map

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6 job family competencies and 5 technical (job specific) competencies.

When job competency profiles are laid out side by side in one document to allow comparison
across a job family, it is called a job competency map (Please see Annex 10 for a sample of a
Job Competency Map.)

The job competency profile of each position, in turn, becomes an input to the Competency-
based Job Description of that position. Below is an example of how competencies may be
presented in a Competency-based Job Description.

Figure 8. Sample Competency-based Job Description from CSC

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Please see Annex II for full samples of Competency-based Job Descriptions.

When used in recruitment, selection and placement, the job competency profile helps
assess the job-person fit since the candidate’s person profile (performance vis-a-vis required
competencies as determined through behavioural even interviewing (BEI), competency-
based tests, and other means) can be compared against the job competency profile.

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The job competency profile must distinguish between minimum requirement level
competency and working requirement level competencies. When establishing the staffing
requirements of a role/position, it is generally necessary to identify the “bring” competencies.
Sometimes referred to as the entry-level or price-of-admission competencies, these
are identified as key to immediate successful performance on the job. These are often
behavioural and technical competencies the candidates must have learned or developed prior
to assuming the post.

On the other hand, the “acquire” competencies, also known as competitive edge
competencies, are critical to successful performance once the job holder is fully functional
on the job. These are competencies that can be developed, and the job competency profile
serves as the basis for identifying competency gaps of the job holder. The competency gaps
then become the basis for mapping out individual development plans (IDP), which help
managers and HR to plan and execute more responsive and strategic development programs.

BRING ACQUIRE SUCCESS

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PRACTICAL TIPS
FOR COMPETENCY
MODELLING

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TIPS IN DEVELOPING A COMPETENCY MODEL 7.1

TIPS IN DEVELOPING RUBRIC 7.2

& PROFICIENCY LEVELS

TIPS IN DEVELOPING BEHAVIOURAL INDICATORS 7.3

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Following are some tips in specific areas of competency modelling.

7.1 TIPS IN DEVELOPING

A COMPETENCY MODEL
1 Decide on the purpose of the competency model. This will dictate
the depth and breadth of activities involved.

2 When introducing competencies to the organisation for the first

time, consider using it initially for development purposes before
using it as a selection tool for hiring and promotion. Gradual
integration to the HR system facilitates acceptance.

3 Include competencies that job holders must possess, both now and
in the future, to ensure that organisation can achieve its mission and
vision and live its values.

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4 Involve the job holders and the key stakeholders of the job (e.g., leaders and
clients, both internal and external). They are the best sources of data, and
involving them increases ownership of the final output.

5 Install mechanisms to assess the competency model building process as well

as the output of the process so that lessons from the experience may be
incorporated in the next round of competency model building.

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7.2 TIPS IN DEVELOPING RUBRIC AND

PROFICIENCY LEVELS
1 Consult with a broad range of stakeholders when identifying the
rubric as this will set the parameters in developing the proficiency
levels and corresponding behavioural indicators.

2 Be sure to include critical criteria that will aptly describe dimensions

of successful performance.

3 Identify the characteristics that differentiate acceptable and

unaccepltable work.

4 Describe the best and worst levels of quality and then fill in the
middle levels.

5 Have key informants use the rubrics to evaluate their positions or

other reference positions to test the dimensions.

6 Use clear, concise and positive language.

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7.3 TIPS IN DEVELOPING

BEHAVIOURAL INDICATORS
1 Be action-oriented. Choose verbs that show action.
2 Be clear and concise. Do away with jargons. Observe correct
grammar and logical sequencing.

3 Be coherent. Avoid having complex ideas in a statement.

4 Be consistent. Follow a single format in stating behavioural
indicators within a competency

5 Be gender-fair. Use gender sensitive language at all times.

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8
COMPETENCY MODELLING AND PROFILING

APPLICATION OF
COMPETENCY MODELS
AND JOB COMPETENCY
PROFILES
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HR PL ANNING 8.1

RECRUITMENT, SELECTION, & PL ACEMENT 8.2

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 8.3

EMPLOYEE LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT 8.4

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT 8.5

CAREER & SUCCESSFUL PL ANNING 8.6

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Competency models are extremely versatile and find use in many HR functions.
Among these are:

8.1 HR Planning 8.2 Recruitment, Selection,

and PLacement
When competency models are made a part Used in recruitment, selection and
of the organisation’s strategic planning placement, competency models enable
process, the workforce plan links directly HR to place the right person in the right
with the institution’s strategic and annual position. The Competency-based Job
performance plans. Competency models Description can help HR prepare more
help identify the competencies needed by effective job posting that cites specific
the organisation to thrive and succeed in the competency requirements of the job. The
future. An assessment of competencies job competency profile provides solid basis
available in the organisation vis-à-vis the for screening out candidates who do not
competency models will enable HR to possess the “bring” competencies, and for
forecast its future human resource needs. conducting more thorough assessment of
candidates who pass the initial screening.
The competencies and behavioural indicators
are the anchor for developing the interview
guides and other assessment materials.

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8.3 Leadership Development 8.4 Employee Learning and

Development
For leadership development, competencies Similarly, employee learning interventions

provide a road map in the pursuit of that are based on competency models are

leadership excellence. HR can assess job more directed and cost-effective. Both

holders and help them create individual supervisor and job holders can see the

development plans that will guide more value of specific learning programs to

purposive and systematic competency improve performance, and other meaningful

development. That way investment in interventions besides classroom-based

leadership development can yield higher learning (e.g., coaching) can be planned. At

returns. the same time, the learning designer can

readily pick up the competencies as basis for
the learning objective of the program to be
developed.

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8.5 Performance Management 8.6 Career and Succession

Planning
Integrating competencies in performance Competency-based succession planning
management allows the manager to assess enables the organisation to assess and prepare
the output and other results of the job potential successors for critical positions, and
holder’sperformance, as well as the process therefore create a deeper bench of ready
in which these are achieved. Competency- successors. Competency maps enable HR
based performance management provides for to identify jobs with related competencies so
concrete standards of performance that career paths can be drawn.For the career
that forms the basis for contracting (i.e., oriented individual, competency models provide
agreeing on performance targerts), and for a clear road for development within the current
assessment at the end of the performance position or in preparation for the next targeted
period. This fosters better relationship position.
between the manager and the job holder as
subjectivity in rating is minimised.

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COMPETENCY MODELLING AND PROFILING

CONCLUSION

Embarking on competency modelling is a planned organisation initiative. It is not carried

out just to comply with CSC requirements or to be part of the HR industry bandwagon.
The organisation must be clear about the needs that competency modelling will address
and how doing this will benefit the organisation and its human resources. Although
the HR office usually takes the lead in a competency modelling project, it requires
the engagement of a broad range of internal stakeholders, as well as critical external
stakeholders. As with any change that will be introduced to the organisation, this may
be met with initial resistance. It is good practice to generate buy-in at the start of the
project, and plan for people’s involvement throughout the development process and the
roll out of the competency models.

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COMPETENCY MODELLING AND PROFILING

The work of competency modelling does not end with developing competency models and
integrating it in various HR functions. Competency models must be revisited regularly,
reviewed and revised to reflect the changes in organisational strategies, environmental
conditions, job design, regulations, professional practices, or other key factors that might
impact on its shelf life.

While at the onset, development of competency models may seem like a complicated and
arduous task and demands significant investment in time and resources, the gains from doing
it far outweigh the challenges involved. Many organisations have reaped the benefits of
designing their HR systems around competency models. The art and science of competency
modelling continues to be refined to this day, and technologies have been developed to
facilitate competency development and management in organisations. This is a recognition
of the value and contribution of competency modelling as a strategic tool for building a
more agile, effective and high performing workforce and organisation.

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COMPETENCY MODELLING AND PROFILING

REFERENCE
BOOKS
Boyatzis, R.E. (1982). The Competent Manager: A Guide for Effective Management, New York: Wiley.
Dubois, D. & Rothwell W. (2004). Competency-Based Human Resource Management, Mountain View, California:
Davis-Black Publishing.
Spencer, L.M. & Spencer, S. (1993). Competence at Work: Models for Superior Performance, New York:
Wiley.

ARTICLES
Devisch, M. (1998). “The Kioto people management model”, Total Quality Management, Vol. 9, No. 4-5, p.
62 - 65.
Parry, S. B. (1996). The Quest for Competencies in Training Magazine, July 1996 p. 48-56.
Marrelli, J. Tondora, and M.A. Hoge. (2005). Strategies for Developing Competency Models, Administration
and Policy in Mental Health, Vol. 32, Nos. 5/6, May/July 2005
Shippman, J. S., Ash, R. A., Battista, M., Carr, L., Eyde, L. D., Hesketh, B., Kehoe, J. Pearlman, K., & Sanchez, J. I.
(2000). The practice of competency modelling in Personnel Psychology, 53, 703-740.

WEB RESOURCES
Goodrich Andrade H., Understanding Rubrics http://learnweb.harvard.edu/alps/thinking/docs/rubricar.htm

OTHERS
Rothwell, W. (2005). Competency Modelling: A How-To-Do-It Guide, an unpublished toolkit
Rothwell, W. (2014). E-mail communication to M. Aglipay.

136
 ANNEX 1

GLOSSARY

137
 ANNEX 1

ABILITY Refers to a talent such as manual dexterity, visual or spatial acuity, or conceptual
thinking; premised on the idea that while abilities may be taught, learned or enhanced, there
is a natural predisposition to them.

ATTITUDE The person’s disposition to act or react, whether positively or negatively,

favourably or unfavourably, towards certain stimuli, which could be another person, group,
situation, object, etc.

BEHAVIOUR Observable demonstration of some competency, skill, ability of character-

istics; is an especially definitive expression of a competency

BEHAVIOURAL INDICATOR A statement of what can be observed from an individual

manifesting the competency

BEHAVIOURAL ANCHOR Statements which are more specific than behaviours that
are built on levels of proficiency, these statements are descriptive but independent of each
other; each level of description is more complex than the previous one, e.g., for a 4-level
description of a particular competency, Level 2 would be more complex and inclusive of
Level 1, Level 2 would be more complex and inclusive of Level 2 and so on

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES Observable and measurable behaviours, knowledge,

skills, abilities, and other characteristics that contribute to individual success in the organi-
sation that are not associated with any particular job; also known as soft competencies

138
ANNEX 1
BEHAVIOURAL EVENT INTERVIEWING A techniques used to identify critical behaviours or competen-
cies of the incumbent being interviewed by getting the interviewee to describe in details the complete stories
of critical incidents and the competencies demonstrated by the interviewee

BELIEFS Ideas and concepts people holds to be true for themselves and others.

CLUSTER A group of competencies, skills and behaviours organized for the purpose of simplification; an-
other term for theme

COMPETENCY A combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes associated with high performance on the
job; sometimes includes self-image, social motives, traits, thought patterns, mind-sets and ways of thinking,
feeling and acting; these are characteristics that individuals have and use in appropriate, consistent ways in
order to achieve desired performance

COMPETENCY DICTIONARY A reference tool that contains information on all the competencies and
possible levels for the various types of jobs in an institution.

COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK OR ARCHITECTURE An organizing structure which reflects the differ-

ent layers of competencies of an organisation or profession, e.g., core competencies, functional competencies
and leadership competencies

COMPETENCY MAPPING Used in two ways: first is job competency mapping, a process that plots out the
competencies needed against a job family (a.k.a job profiling) ; second use is workforce competency mapping, a
process where each member of the unit/organisation is assessed against a set of critical competencies together
with other members of that unit/organisation (a.k.a. person profiling). Through person profiling the organisa-
tion is able to identify what kinds of competencies to look for to strengthen the unit or which competencies to
develop among the members of the unit vis-a-vis ideal set.

139
 ANNEX 1

COMPETENCY MODEL A written description of the competencies required for fully successful or exem-
plary performance in a job category, work team, department, division, or organisation; the output of analyses
conducted to differentiate high performers from average and low performers.

COMPETENCY MODELLING The process of creating competency models for jobs, job categories, organi-
sations, occupations and industries

COMPETENCY TABLE A matrix that reflects the definition and proficiency levels of a competency as
defined by behaviours of each level

COMPETENCY-BASED HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT a system for integrating all aspects

of managing human capital where employees are selected, evaluated, developed, moved and paid using a
common measure/standard that supports organisational success.

COMPETENCY-BASED JOB DESCRIPTION A job description that specified the competencies need by
the job holder to perform successfully in the position

CORE COMPETENCE The unique factors that can give organisations a unique competitive advantage;
characteristic ascribed to organisations that includes the organisation’s systems, technologies, routines,
mechanisms and processes

CORE COMPETENCIES Individual characteristics that collectively lead to desired outcomes in the organi-
sation; should be possessed by all employees regardless of position

ETHICS Rules of behaviour based on ideas about what is morally good and bad

140
ANNEX 1
FUNCTIONAL/TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES Behaviours that are critical to an individual occupying
a particular job or position; abilities that pertain to a specific body of knowledge and skills required to perform
the defined activities in a function or job; sometimes referred to as hard competencies

JOB ANALYSIS Identifying task, responsibilities, duties, accountabilities, knowledge and skills requirements
and any other criteria for job performance

JOB DESCRIPTION A summary of the most important features of the job, including major responsibilities,
relationships, authorities, accountabilities, basic qualifications and other specifications

JOB CLUSTERS/FAMILY/ CATEGORY A group of jobs connected by common knowledge base or by

organisational structure; a series of progressively higher jobs that perform similar work requiring similar compe-
tencies, e.g., Training Specialist 1-4,

JOB OR POSITION COMPETENCY PROFILE The set of competencies and levels of proficiency needed
by an individual to do the job successfully

JOB PROFILING The act of creating job/position competency profiles; also known as job competency
mapping

KNOWLEDGE Refers to the body of information, concepts, ideas, facts, principles, theories and models
necessary for performing a job

MOTIVES That which people think about, seek and desire; the reason people do things e.g., wanting power or
prestige

PERFORMANCE A combination of the accomplishment produced by people on the job and the behaviours

141
 ANNEX 1
used to achieve these accomplishment (Biech, 2008)

PERSON PROFILE The characteristics that people bring with them to the job such as qualifications (educa-
tion, experience, training and eligibility) and suitability (competencies)

PROFICIENCY Refers to how much of a particular competency a person possess to be successful in

the job; degree of mastery of a skills/knowledge area

RUBRIC An explicit set of criteria used for assessing a particular type of work or performance from the sim-
plest manifestation of desired behaviours to the most sophisticated

SKILL Specialized abilities needed to carry out certain physical operations or activities associated with suc
cessful job performance; may be cognitive in nature such as analysis, synthesis and evaluation

SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE (COMPETENCY) LEVEL A peak mastery level of a competency

THRESHOLD (COMPETENCY) LEVEL A beginner’s level of proficiency in a competency

VALUES Deeply held beliefs about a specific mode of conduct or end-state of existence that is personally
and socially preferred by an individual or organisation such as integrity, trust, teamwork and quality

142
 ANNEX 2

DSWD
FUNCTIONAL
COMPETENCIES
143
 ANNEX 2

1. Adoption Advocacy 20. Mobilizing for responsive community driven

2. Case Counseling development
3. Case Management/Case Analysis 21. Media and Public Relations
4. Case Networking and Linkages 22. Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
5. Case Writing Fluency
6. Community Based Project Fiscal 23. Presentation Skills
Management 24. Process Management
7. Community Organizing 25. Program Management
8. Computer Knowledge and Skills 26. Program Monitoring and Evaluation
9. Content Knowledge 27. Project Management
10. Developing Institutional Capabilities 28. Project Monitoring & Evaluation
11. Engineering Expertise 29. Records Management
12. Grievance Management 30. Social Marketing and Advocacy Strategy
13. Group Facilitation 31. Systems Administration/Infrastructure
14. Information and Communications Management
Technology (ICT) Installation and 32. Systems Analysis and Design
Maintenance 33. Systems/Software Development and
15. Information Education Communication Programming
(IEC) Materials Development 34. Training Administration
16. Information Security and Management 35. Training Design and Methodologies
17. KALAHI-CIDSS Program Fluency 36. Use of Monitoring and Evaluation Tools &
18. Knowledge of Local Governance Design Mechanism Development
19. Knowledge of related regulations and 37. Written Communication
procedures of LGUs, DepEd, DOH and
related agencies

144
 ANNEX 3

SAMPLE
RUBRICS
145
 ANNEX 3

Rubics: Leveling Guide for Competencies

Criteria Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

New practices/concepts and

Depth of Established practices of some Established practices of all New practices of all WLP theories of all WLP elements;
Knowledge WLP elements WLP elements elements is a credible resource in this
area

Integration with concerned Integration with business or Integration woth sector/

Scope Specific area
areas organisational strategies industry

able to innovate and

formulate strategies; able
sustained application of sustained application of
Consistency of sustained application of to model/guide/lead/
competency over time in a competency over time in
Application competency over time coach/ teach others the
variety of situations complex situations
competency of how to apply
the competency

Thinking Within establish procedures Requires developing

A wide variety of sistuations No established procedures
Challenge or similar situations imaginative procedures

Impact on Specific WLP task Specific WLP projects Management decision Sectoral/industry practices

Reach of
Individuals Unit/groups Corporate/insitutional Sector/industry
Influence

Scorecard Internal operations Workforce or line operations Corporate/institutional Sectora/industry success

Measurement perspective perspective success perspective perspective

able to apply knowledge able to apply knowledge and

Degree of able to apply knowledge and able to apply knowledge and
and skills under limited skills with no supervision
Autonomy skills with close supervision skills with some supervision
supervision needed

Business outcomes;
Success Sectoral/industry
Intervention efficiency Intervention effectiveness organisational effectiveness
Indicator effectiveness and learning
and learning
Source: PSTD Competency and Certification Committee, May 2010

146
 ANNEX 4

SAMPLE
COMPETENCY
TABLE CSC
147
ANNEX 4

148
 ANNEX 5

ACTION
VERBS FOR
BEHAVIOURAL
INDICATORS
149
 ANNEX 5

Avoid FUZZY (non-observable/verifiable) words such as…

Administer Discuss Manage
Analyze Empathize Observe
Arrange Encourage Participate
Assure Enhance Search
Conceptualize Examine Study
Collaborate Expedite Supervise
Cooperate Follow-Up Upgrade
Coordinate Investigate
Develop Improve/Increase

USE CLEAR, RESULTS-ORIENTED ACTION WORDS SUCH AS…

Acquire Arrange Categorize
Act Assemble Change
Activate Assess Check
Adapt Assign Choose
Address Audit Classify
Adjust Authorize Clean
Adopt Balance Close
Advise Breakdown Coach
Announce Budget Collect
Appraise Build Combine
Approve Calculate Compare

150
ANNEX 5

USE CLEAR, RESULTS-ORIENTED ACTION WORDS SUCH AS…

Compile Disconnect Formulate Mediate
Complete Discover Generate Meet
Compute Display Give Mentor
Conduct Distinguish Guide Modify
Connect Distribute Handle Monitor
Construct Divide Hire Negotiate
Control Draft Identify Notify
Convert Draw Illustrate Obtain
Copy Drive Implement Offer
Counsel Edit Inform Operate
Count Eliminate Initiate Order
Create Establish Inspect Organize
Critique Estimate Install Outline
Decide Evaluate Instruct Perform
Define Examine Interpret Plan
Delegate Execute Interview Play
Deliver Explain Inventory Predict
Describe Express Investigate Prepare
Design Extract Issue Prescribe
Determine File List Present
Devise Fill Locate Print
Differentiate Find Maintain Produce
Disassemble Follow Make Program
Discharge Form Measure Provide

151
 ANNEX 5

USE CLEAR, RESULTS-ORIENTED ACTION WORDS SUCH AS…

Purchase Scrutinize Transfer
Question Secure Translate
Quote Select Troubleshoot
Raise Sell Trouble-shoot
Recall Separate Use
Receive Serve Validate
Recommend Set Verbalize
Record Set-up Verify
Recruit Solve Visit
Refer Sort Wash
Release Start Weigh
Repair Submit Withdraw
Report Suggest Write
Represent Summarize
Reproduce Supply
Request Tabulate
Require Take
Resolve Talk
Respond Tell
Restore Test
Retrieve Trace
Review Track
Revise Train
Schedule Transcribe

152
 ANNEX 6

SAMPLE PAGES OF
A COMPETENCY
DICTIONARY
153
ANNEX 6

154
ANNEX 6

155
ANNEX 6

156
157
158
ANNEX 6

EXAMPLE OF A CORE COMPETENCY IN THE DICTIONARY

159
 ANNEX 6

EXAMPLE OF A FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCY IN THE DICTIONARY

160
 ANNEX 7 ASSESSING
READINESS FOR
COMPETENCY
IDENTIFICATION,
MODELLING AND
ASSESSMENT
(Source: Rothwell, W. (2005) Competency
Modeling: A How-To-Do-It Guide,
an unpublished toolkit)

161
 ANNEX 7
Is your organisation ready for competency Identification, modelling and assessment?
To answer the question, complete this assessment instrument. Use this to assess conditions in your
organisation. Circle a code for each problem listed in the let column below which corresponds to your
perception about it. (There are no “right” or “wrong” answers in any absolute sense.)

Use the following rating scale:

5 = A very great problem

4 = A major problem
3 = Somewhat a problem
2 = A minor problem
1 = Not a problem (strength)

When you finish, refer to the scoring section at the end of this assessment instrument.

STATEMENT : YOUR PERCEPTION

AWARENESS YOUR
5 PERCEPTION
4 3 2 1

Senior leaders of this organisation understand what

competencies are.

Senior leaders of this organisation understand why

competencies are.

Senior leaders of this organisation understand how

competencies are linked to competitive advantage
(institutional mandate).

162
ANNEX 7

Middle managers of this organisation understand what

competencies are.

Middle managers of this organisation understand why

competencies are important.

Middle managers of this organisation understand how

competencies are linked to competitive advantage
(institutional mandate).

Supervisors of this organisation understand what

competencies are.

Supervisors of this organisation understand why competencies

are important.

Supervisors of this organisation how competencies are linked

to competitive advantage (institutional mandate).
TOTAL
STATEMENT : YOUR PERCEPTION
CULTURE 5 4 3 2 1

This organisation tends to favor selection of leaders like the

current incumbents

This organisation has a long history of devoting less than

average time to the development of people

This organisation has had many examples of people who are

promoted and then failed to work out.

Executives, managers and supervisors rely on personal

impression in making section and promotion decisions.

163
 ANNEX 7

TOTAL
Scoring Section
Use the preceding assessment to help you determine how ready your organisation is to devote time and
attention to systematic competency identification. Generally speaking, the higher the score in each part
of the instrument, the greater the need to concentrate your attention on that issue in building support and
readiness for action.

Awareness overall score______

A score between 45 and 23 in the Awareness Section of the instrument indicates significant barriers to action
in that area. If your organisation score in this section is within this range, then devote your initial effort to
building awareness.

Culture overall score______

A score between 20 and 16 in the Culture Section of the instrument indicates significant barriers to action
in that area. If your organisation score in this section is within this range, then devote your initial effort to
surmounting the cultural barriers standing in the way of acceptance of competency identification.

Action Planning
Do some brainstorming on the most important problems that need to be addressed before your organisation
may be “ready” for systematic competency identification, modelling and assessment. Make notes on the
section below, writing it in the form of a “to do” list:

164
 ANNEX 8

TECHNIQUES IN
COMPETENCY
MODELLING
(BUILD APPROACH)
165
 ANNEX 8

Techniques in Competency Model Building (Build Approach)

The Process-Driven Technique
This technique was made famous by the consulting firm McBer, now Hay/McBer. It is the oldest of the
techniques in competency building. The name of the technique come from the emphasis that is places on the
work process performed be exemplary job holders. Key steps in this technique include:
1. Investigate the work duties, task, responsibilities, roles and work environment of the job, work, team
or occupation that is targeted (example trainer, accountant. customer service representative)
2. Isolate the characteristics of work exemplars
3. Verify the competency model

Output-Driven Technique
This was made famous by Patricia McLagan. It takes is name from focusing attention on the key output of
the targeted job, Occupation, team or work group. Outputs are what successful performers produce, the
outcomes or results of their work. Competencies are derived from examining those outputs. Key steps in this
technique include:
1. Compile all available information about the duties, tasks, responsibilities, role and work environment
of the job, work, team or occupation that is the target of the competency modelling study (example
trainer, accountant. customer service representative)
2. Establish an expert panel that consists of individuals who supervise those in the targeted category as
well as exemplary performers or exemplary job incumbents.
3. Express explicit assumptions about future changes likely to affect the job, work, team or occupation
that is the target of the competency model study in the context of the organisation or field or
endeavor
4. Compile a menu of work output

166
ANNEX 8
5. Develop a menu of quality requirements associated with the work outputs
6. Devise a list of work competencies and behavioural anchors or indices associates with each
competency
7. List work roles developed through cluster analysis of the work outputs (which makes role
identification a derivative activity of work outputs)
8. Develop the draft competency model.

The Work Responsibility-Driven Technique

This technique derives output, competencies role and quality requirements fom work responsibilities or
activities. Basic steps in applying this technique include:
1. Target one occupational group or job category.
2. Select a panel of 8-12 exemplary performers from the group or job category to be examined and 2-3
immediate organisational superiors (also exemplary) of the targeted group to be examined.
3. Invite the panel to a session to focus attention on the details and responsibilities of the target group
or job category.
4. Select a group facilitator and 2 assistant facilitators to conduct the session.
5. Assemble participants in a large room with blank wall for 1-2 days.
6. Brief participants on the process and on job challenges facing them in the future.
7. Ask participants to list functions/responsibilities they perform
8. Write the statement on sheets of paper and tape the sheets to the wall.
9. Continue the process until participants can no longer think of functions/responsibilities and behaviors
10. Create exclusive categories in which to grop the functions/responsibilities and behaviors.
11. Verify the function/responsibility categories by asking participants to review them.
12. Review each function/responsibility and behavior that participants previously listed to ensure that it is
placed under the proper category and to ensure that it should not be revised, deleted (because other

167
 ANNEX 8
functions/responsibilities overlap with it), or other functions/responsibilities should be added (because
they were initially forgotten.)
13. Group function/responsibility categories and behaviors in sequential order.
14. Ask participants to return from break to verify and /or validate sequential order.
15. Remove the chart from the wall and have it typed
16. Verify the chart devised by the participants by circulating it back to them for review.
17. Prepare surveys based on the chart to identify work roles, outputs, competencies, quality
requirements future trends and ethical challenges related to each function/responsibility and/or
behavior appearing on the chart.
18. Conduct the surveys, compile results and present the results for review to another group of
exemplary job incumbents and their immediate supervisors as a form of validation.

Source: Competency Modelling Toolkit: A “How-to-Do-It” Guide by William J. Rothwell
An unpublish guidebook, 2005

168
 ANNEX 9 INSTITUTIONAL
JOURNEY TO
COMPETENCY
MODELLING AND
PROFILING: THE
CSC & DSWD
EXPERIENCES
169
 CSC Journey:

ModeLling and Profiling

Competency Modelling
ANNEX 9
START

Team mobilisation
Assessment

• OHRMD
• CSI
Mandate Structure Documents • HRPSO
• Regional Offices III,
IV & NCR
Benchmarking

Government Private Local International

Model development

Leadership

Technical

Organisational

Core

Model Validation & Rubrics Development

Job COmpetency Systems Changes

Profiles
Administrative
Officer • Eligibility
• Education
• Exemplifying
• Experience
Integrity
• Training
• Delivering • Competency
Service • Proficiency level
Excellence

Competency Based Qualification Behavioural Event

Job Descriptions Standards Interviewing
HR Specialist
Core Competencies: application to other HR Systems
• Exemplifying
Integrity Recruitment
PMS
170
• Solving Problems & System

Making Decisions Competency

• Delivering Service
Career
Excellence Planning T&D
 DSWD Journey:

ModelLing and Profiling

Competency ModeLling
ANNEX 9 START
Competency Model Building
and Behavioral
2 weeks
Event Interviewing
Introductory Course on
Competencies and BEI

Benchmarking
visit to:

NEDA DTI BSP

Data Gathering & Application of BEI

Interview with SMEs FGD Alignment

Sessions

Training on Thematic Analysis

Excellence Transcription of
Sensitivity
Leadership Interviews,
Core identification of
Competencies Behavioral Statements
Organising
Integrity & Tentative
Competencies

common competencies among 60 positions

Organisation

Leadership

Sensitivity

Competency based validation of competencies

job descriptions Socia
Offic l Welfar
er e
Social Welfare Colla
bora
ting
Officer Com
and
Netw
mun orkin
icat g
ing Ef
- Collaborating and Com fect
m ively
Networking and itment
Prot to S
- Communicating Effectively ecti ocia
on l Dev
’t
- Commitment to Social Dev't
and Protection

Competency Competency Modelling

dictionary concurrence &
of the Execom Profiling

171
ANNEX 10

SAMPLE JOB
COMPETENCY
MAP
172
 ANNEX 10

Competency Posi0ons
Chief   Supervising  
Administra0ve   Administra0ve   Administra0ve   Administra0ve   Administra0ve  
Officer  II Officer  IV Officer  V Officer Officer  
Commitment  to  Credible  Public  Service 1 2 2 2 2
Core Delivering  Excellent  Results   1 1 3 3 3
Personal  Effec0veness 1 2 3 3 3
Planning  &  Organizing N/A N/A 2 3 3
Thinking  Strategically  &  Systemically N/A N/A 2 3 3
Collabora0ng  &  Networking N/A N/A 2 3 3
Management  &  
Problem  Solving  &  Decision  Making N/A N/A 3 3 3
Leadership
Facilita0ng  Change  and  Innova0on N/A N/A 2 2 2
Crea0ng  an  Environment  for  Learning  &  Growth N/A N/A 2 3 3
Engaging  and  Inspiring  Teams N/A N/A 2 3 3
General  Human  Resource  Exper0se 1 1 3 4 3
Performance  Management   N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Recruitment,  Selec0on,  Placement N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Career  Development N/A N/A 3 3 3
Employee  Welfare N/A N/A 3 1 3
Func0onal  /  
Employee  Rela0ons N/A 2 N/A 2 N/A
Technical
Office  Management  and  Secretariat  Services 2 2 1 2 1
Verbal  Communica0on 1 1 2 1 2
WriVen  Communica0on 2 1 2 1 4
Counseling N/A 2 N/A N/A N/A
Research  Skills N/A N/A N/A N/A 4

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SAMPLE
COMPETENCY-
BASED JOB
DESCRIPTION
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Sample Competency-based Job Description – Sample 1

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Sample Competency-based Job Description – Sample 2

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LESSONS
LEARNED BY CSC
& DSWD
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LESSONS FROM THE COMPETENCY MODELLING JOURNEY:

THE CSC EXPERIENCE (2011-2012)
INTERVIEWEES:
• Noreen Gocon-Gragasin – Director III, Office of the Human Resource Management and
Development
• Marites Tumaliuan - Office of the Human Resource Management and Development
• Tito Cubillas - Business Partner, CSI
• Ma. Jinky P. Jayme- Business Partner, CSI

Q&A
1. WHAT PROMPTED YOUR ORGANISATION TO MOVE
INTO COMPETENCY-BASED HR?

• As a result of our Vision (Asia’s leading center for excellence in strategic human resource and
organisation development), we needed to enhance the competencies of our workforce hence the
intervention. We used competencies even before the intervention but there were no structures or
system. There was no common language and framework to establish consistent
expectations across CSC.

Even before the HRODF’s Competency Modelling intervention, CSC has recognized the
importance of competency for HR functions. Our HRPSO (Human Resource Policies and

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Standards Office) did a survey on competencies in CSC before the intervention. The output
of this intervention was used for the HROD intervention.

• In 2011 when an organisation assessment was conducted for CSC, the need for competency
modelling was identified. Hence we embarked on it with a focus on doing it first for the CSC as an
organisation. Our next step is to propagate this to the rest of the bureaucracy.

2. HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT CREATING YOUR COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK?

• First we had a two week classroom intervention where an overview was given and the technical
working group went through a team development intervention. Then we did benchmarking studies
locally (BSP, DTI, Aboitiz, Monde-Nissin) and abroad (Civil Service College, Public Service Division
and Investors in People). We held workshops to identify the competencies for 77 positions and
validate these with incumbents before we came up with what we presented to the Commission for
approval. We came up with core, organisational, leadership and technical/ functional competencies.

3. WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN CREATING YOUR

COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK?

• While we were trying to identify competencies, we unearth organisational systems problems such
as people occupying a certain position but doing something else. This was due to the restrictions by
DBM on creating new positions and staffing these posts.
• Others include developing the tools and forms and enhancing indicators. Also there is the need for
the regional office to understand how competencies are identified
• It was difficult for the members of the technical working group to devote full time work to the
intervention as there were daily work requirements to attend to.

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4. HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES?

• We took note of the organisational issues that we surfaced so that they can be addressed later.
• We likewise pilot tested the tools and did FGDs to validate the competencies. It is an iterative
process.

5. WHAT BENEFITS ARE YOUR STAKEHOLDERS (EXECUTIVES, MANAGERS,

EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS) REAPING NOW AS A RESULT OF USING A
COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK IN YOUR HRM FUNCTIONS?

• For the employees, we are now able to assess competency gaps that feed into the IDPs (individual
development plan). There is now a general awareness of the competencies that they need to acquire
in order to assume higher level positions. Then they can work towards building these competencies.
A program for learning and development for CSC staff has been developed.
• For recruitment, interviews are now conducted at the level of divisions instead of the entire Personnel
Section Board (PSB). That cuts short the process since it is very difficult to convene the PSB to do
the actual screening. Recommendations are just given to them which make the process faster.

6. IF YOU COULD CHANGE ANYTHING IN THE WAY YOU CONDUCTED YOUR

COMPETENCY MODEL BUILDING AND PROFILING ACTIVITY, WHAT WOULD THIS
BE AND WHY?

• Maybe the pacing. Instead of attempting to do the competency model of the whole organisation,
might be better to focus first on critical positions. Start small scale and then spread all over within a
three-year period. It is important to take into consideration the ff:

o Maturity of the system

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o Proficiency of the HR people who will implement
o Resources of the organisation
• To give more time to the intervention. We only had 11 months to work on this. It felt like we were
always in a hurry to present to the Commission. Maybe if we had more time, our outputs would have
been more polished.
• Even after the intervention, there should be a dedicated office/team to continue the work of
competency modelling in CSC. Right now, we only did 77 positions. There are other competency
models to be developed. There are also issues and questions arise as a result of using the
competencies that need to be resolved. There must be an office to address all these.

7. WHAT LESSONS FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE IN COMPETENCY MODEL BUILDING

AND PROFILING CAN YOU SHARE WITH OTHER PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS
THAT ARE PLANNING TO GO INTO THIS PROCESS AS WELL?

• Allow systems to mature first before expanding to other areas of the organisation.
• Bring in key people (whoever is involved in the propagation of competencies in the organisation) in
the intervention at the early stages of development.
• There is a need to understand the culture of the organisation at the onset.
• Need to develop the intervention implementation plan.
• For members of the technical working group, choose high potentials and get the commitment of
their heads of office.
• When embarking on a competency model building, there must be clarity of accountability. In the
case of CSC there was confusion about the process owner. First it was CSI then it became OHRMD
• No system is perfect. During implementation, you will see flaws in the competency model but it’s
still good to have something to work with than none at all.
• In terms of buy in, it might be good to engage the participation of employees and managers. It helps
build a sense of ownership because they were consulted early in the process.

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LESSONS FROM THE COMPETENCY MODELLING JOURNEY:

THE DSWD EXPERIENCE (2011-2012)
INTERVIEWEE:
• Marie Angela S. Gopalan –Director IV- DSWD

COMPETENCY MODEL BUILDING AND PROFILING INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. WHAT PROMPTED YOUR ORGANISATION TO MOVE INTO
COMPETENCY-BASED HR?

There was a strong need to capacitate the organisation because of the expansion of the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino program in addition to existing poverty alleviation programs being implemented by
DSWD. The Pantawid Pamilya was initially conceived as assistance to about 300,00 families as pilot
in 2008 rapidly increased – and the target coverage by 2013 became 3 M families

2. HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT CREATING YOUR COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK?

We identified 60 key positions mostly from the Pantawid Pamilya staffing plan for the pilot including
Director positions. Highly effective performers for the positions were identified including other key
informants (e.g. supervisors; they were subjected to behavioural event interviews). The documented

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interviews were then processed and subjected to thematic analysis to come up with competencies.
These competencies were reviewed and several core competencies were identified.
These were subjected to validation and finally confirmed by the Executive Committee. Technical
competencies for each position were scheduled for the second phase or for the roll out of the CB
framework.

3. WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN CREATING YOUR

COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK?

• Paradigm/context shift which entails a full appreciation of what competencies are considering that
many think it is basically skills.
• There is a whole “language” about competencies and we had difficulty identifying “high level”
competencies that incorporates other more basic competencies.
• Having to devote time and energy to this considering the existing workload and requirements of the
Department on HR.
• The re-clustering of the Department – a new organisational set up was prescribed leading to the
creation of a new cluster group to which the HR was assigned. HR was also reorganized leaving one
division/unit under the General Administration and Support Services Group.
• Correcting the perception of DSWD Officials and employees about what competencies are and how
they should be used in recruitment, selection and placement.

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4. HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES?

• One of our principals, then the Asst. Secretary for GASSG was designated as our champion. She
helped manage the work and expectations of the Secretary from HR so that we can put our attention
to the intervention provided. Because of this we were able to accommodate day-to-day demands of
the work.
• In the end – we had to pull back from the intervention because we needed to attend to the special
requirements of the Pantawid Pamilya. The LSP assigned to us helped by being more visible and
supportive. They were visiting us in the office often, setting up a lot of face time and arranging
schedules to accommodate us and ensure we are able to deliver on the outputs committed.
• Some orientation to end users (particularly those involved in screening and selection of applicants)
were conducted before the intervention ended to enlighten them about competencies and their use.
• Those Field Offices with staff who were trained on competency modelling and where the competency
based recruitment selection system was piloted – adopted this system which drastically reduced their
processing time.

5. WHAT BENEFITS ARE YOUR STAKEHOLDERS (EXECUTIVES, MANAGERS,

EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS) REAPING NOW AS A RESULT OF USING A
COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK IN YOUR HRM FUNCTIONS?

• In areas where we applied competency-based hiring, people stayed longer

• We are able to ensure that the applicant have commitment to social development (our definition for
inclination or propensity for service not profit)

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• Opened up ideas for the HR people about a different way of assessing qualifications and
capabilities of applicants and employees alike so that they are able to respond to the requirements of
the organisation.
• In pilot areas implementing the competency based recruitment system – a faster turnaround in the
filling up of vacancies.

6. IF YOU COULD CHANGE ANYTHING IN THE WAY YOU CONDUCTED YOUR

COMPETENCY MODEL BUILDING AND PROFILING ACTIVITY, WHAT WOULD THIS
BE AND WHY?

• I think the process we went through was good despite it being quite lengthy because it showed us how
to identify and adopt competencies attuned or defined in the context of the Department’s work.
• Considering however that there is still a need to define the competencies of other positions – it
might be good to find ways and means to condense the activities and still yield the same results.

7. WHAT LESSONS FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE IN COMPETENCY MODEL BUILDING

AND PROFILING CAN YOU SHARE WITH OTHER PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS
THAT ARE PLANNING TO GO INTO THIS PROCESS AS WELL?
• The need to orient people on the concept of competencies. Most people associate competencies with
knowledge and/or skills – the aspect of “attitude”, “intent”, “predisposition/inclination” is not clear.
• In identifying competencies that will be adopted in the organisation it is necessary to draw
behavioural indicators that are manifest in the organisation – cannot simply copy form what is in
available literature.

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• Defining these competencies should always be framed as the ideal – it should be derived from
employees who show exemplary performance in their work. It is good if these competencies and their
behavioural indicators be benchmarked with other organisations and/or if unavailable in the agency –
draw from other organisations that excel in it.
• It is necessary to be detailed and thorough in the data gathering and processing - it will require some
patience. To institutionalize – the system and mechanism of maintaining and enhancing the
competencies must be put in place
• Most important of all – once competencies are identified – agency must use them/apply them as
part of its regular operations.

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For Inquiries:

Civil Service Commission

Constitution Hills, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Diliman, 1126
Quezon City, Philippines

CSC Trunklines : 931 - 8092 / 931 - 7030 / 931 - 7935

Website : http://csc.gov.ph
© 2017