Typically organisations are more likely to conduct competency assessments when there is a merger and acquisition, restructuring or new initiatives being developed. This is a robust approach that many organisations steer clear of. "We believe that it is important for organisations to annually carry out competency assessments as it provides the company with a sanity check on how their employees are operating and whether the in-house skills exist to ensure the successful operation of the organization," says Seugnet van den Berg, partner at consulting firm Bizmod.
Bizmod has identified five key pillars to competency and in order to undertake an effective competency assessment organisations need to define the five pillars.
Van den Berg says that Bizmod defines competence as performing a skill in context, to standard, integrating knowledge and its application. To undertake a competency assessment an organisation needs to define its competency frameworks per job and agree the definition and standard required per competency. This process is driven by the organisation but facilitated by consultants like Bizmod.
Competency assessments need not be a lengthy and costly exercise. "This is a proven methodology with quick delivery providing organisations with a pragmatic value add while reducing risk with a standardised, structured and disciplined approach," concludes Van den Berg.
