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Competency Framework Development

Transformation Partners, Competency Framework DevelopmentMany of the competency frameworks we see have taken significant time, effort and money to develop. Yet two things often strike us when we are working with them.

  1. There is remarkable degree of  similarity, not to say sameness, between them, with generally very subtle language differences rather than differences of genuine meaning. We don't really believe that there are that many behavioural competencies in the world!

  2. They have remarkably little traction within the organisation, in that many staff see them as somehow disconnected with 'real work', often wordy and full of 'consultant speak', and generally imposed on them by HR as another level of bureaucracy rather than positive, practical assistance with leadership behaviours or employee competence.

This creates a dilemma for organisations.  How can they create a meaningful platform that underpins performance management and development activities by providing a common language to be used universally, without at the same time wasting money on the easy part of the process, building a framework, and focusing more on the outcomes they are trying to bring about.

Our Chartered Psychologists, Philippa Hain and John Boddy, have considerable experience in developing organisational competency frameworks for use in performance management, assessment and development activities.  We focus on delivering value expressed in return on investment terms rather than undertaking a major diagnostic exercise from scratch. This means that we use the research we do as a communication vehicle rather than undertaking numerous interviews using repertory grid or other techniques that require weeks of analysis.  We focus on helping potential users of the system to understand it's benefits to them, at the same getting them to adjust the language and usability of a framework that we can draft very quickly.  The result is better value for money and, more importantly, better take up of the system.

We have recently drafted competency frameworks for Neath Port Talbot  Borough Council, the Wales Audit Office and the Intellectual Property office. Working with our strategic partners 360 Partnership Ltd, we can quickly and cost effectively put together a 360 degree feedback tool that helps to embed the framework while delivering better performance coaching and business outcomes.