The meanings of competency

Abstract

The term “competency” has not been clearly defined in the literature. Two main meanings of the term have been identified, one referring to the outputs, or results of training – that is, competent performance. The other definition referring to the inputs, or underlying attributes, required of a person to achieve competent performance. Each definition has been used to describe both individual and organisational competencies. A typology of the meanings of competency has been developed to show that the term has several meanings depending on the purpose for which it is used. The implications developed in this paper are directed toward reducing the confusion over the meaning of the term competency.