Competency Mapping in Thermal Power Companies: How Does It Impact Performance?

I have started with the project on competency mapping, more precisely, I am doing a comparative analysis between two thermal power companies - NTPC and Power Grid Co. The former practices competency mapping, and the latter doesn't. I am planning to explore how important competency mapping is and how it contributes to the overall performance of the company. I am unsure about how to proceed. I would appreciate it if you could reply as soon as possible.

NTPC is the first PSU in India to adopt COMMAP, and after having adopted this, its performance has risen remarkably. Getting influenced by NTPC, other companies are following the same policy, whereas Powergrid lags behind. I want other PSUs to focus on the competencies of employees to perform better. I'll be grateful if you help me do this.

Who are you and in what capacity are you doing the project and why? If it is for an academic degree, have you done any literature survey?

Please see my posts on Research Methodology and MBA projects. You are trying to seek help with scant information.

Have a nice day.

Simhan
A retired academic in the UK

I am an MBA student at AIM, Delhi. I find that people have conducted a detailed study on competency mapping in NTPC. I am trying to figure out to what extent this concept has contributed to keeping NTPC ahead of other thermal power companies and why Power Grid should apply this theory.

Let me know what details you would like to know. I am looking forward to your guidance.

Have you done any literature survey? Have you got access to both organizations? How much time have you got to complete the studies?

Have you got a faculty guide and a mentor at one of the sites?

I have had talks with both companies and will be visiting them soon. I need to submit the final report by the 14th.

I am almost done with the study of NTPC. I have already submitted 50% of it. The rest will be completed when I visit Power Grid. I am a bit perplexed about the comparison between the two.

Sir, I am trying to understand why companies are so prominent on the competitive map and how it affects the overall performance of the organization. I also want to conduct a comparative study with another company, Power Grid, which does not follow this trend, to analyze how it is affected by this approach and why it should consider adopting this HR policy. I have initiated the project and conducted a detailed study on NTPC. I am now focusing on studying the other company. Sir, you appear to have reservations about the topic and the entire project. Could you please let me know if there is any issue?

Thank you so much for your feedback, sir. Now, I am clear about what is to be done. Could you please suggest a company I can work with as a competitor of NTPC that does not follow Com Map?

Dear Monica,

If you require any materials for your project, you should consider visiting a thermal power plant to gather relevant data about your requirements.

Ummed
M. - 09407191183

Dear Monica,

It is difficult to find a worthy competitor to NTPC, as far as thermal power generation in India is concerned. Power generation in India has been regulated by the government, and it was only after 1991 that the liberalization policy of the government threw open this sector to new private participants.

Thermal power generation, as you know, is dependent on coal, naptha/oil, and gas as raw materials and additionally abundant water. Coal blocks have to be allocated by the Ministry of Coal, for naptha/oil, gas-based projects pipelines of thousands of miles have to be constructed; clearance from the Ministry of Forest and Environment needs to be obtained, land has to be acquired through the State government. All these activities take years.

All steel plants, aluminum plants, cement plants, etc., have their own captive thermal power plants with power purchase and sale arrangements with State Government Electricity Boards.

Presently many new companies are coming up in this sector, which will start generation in a few years; namely:

- GMR Group
- Essar Group
- Reliance Energy Ltd.
- Adani Power
- Lanco Infratech
- JSPL etc.

Presently, the thermal power plants are operated by state electricity boards. For example, Maharashtra Electricity Board (Chandrapur, Nasik, Dahanu), Gujarat Electricity Board (Dhuvaran, Surat), Punjab Electricity Board, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (Tuticorin, Mettur) etc. Others are Tata Power Corporation, Damodar Valley Corporation (has both hydel and thermal power plants), Neyveli Lignite etc.

None is comparable to NTPC.

In my opinion, since the core subject is "Competency Mapping," you can go ahead studying NTPC and any other large company in another sector and study how they apply it.

If you think that "competency mapping" is the ONLY factor responsible for the success of NTPC, and you want to compare another company that does not practice "competency mapping" to show that it is the reason behind its 'failure,' then it is the opinion of your guide and you.

I do not personally subscribe to your theory and the way it is being conducted.

I do not agree with your present research design, nor the research hypothesis.

Research work is a serious business and should be taken up seriously.

Just forming a hypothesis and somehow trying to fit things into it is not something that I recommend or approve - research for the sake of research.

Regards.

Thank you, sir. Actually, I had little idea about how to go about it. Thank you so much. I will study extensively the use of Com map in NTPC and all the methodologies adopted. Is there another sector you would recommend I refer to?

Hello, Monica,

I am also working on a similar project. I am conducting benchmarking for a media firm on competency mapping. Could you please send me the information that you have gathered from NTPC regarding the processes they have employed and how it has helped them? Additionally, if you could also inform me about other companies in India that have their competencies mapped.

Thank you.

I finally am clear about what is to be done. I am working on a detailed study of competency mapping in NTPC.