Is Competency Assessment Fading Away or Misunderstood? Let's Discuss Its Real Value

Dear Friends,

Some time back in the HR world, competency assessment was the buzzword, but now it seems that it is losing its charm. Frankly speaking, I don't know the reason for its downfall. Is it because it was just another HR fad, or did companies somehow take it wrongly? Whatever the reason is, I still feel that it has lots of scope and surely it can improve the performance of the organization if it is used for developmental purposes rather than as a tool for issuing pink slips. I would like to know your opinion.

Regards

Dear Gaurav,

I agree with you. However, if I may say, "Competency Mapping" is not everyone's cup of tea. A specialized branch of psychology, psychometrics, and occupational behavior research is working on it and has shown some light.

Competency is not something that everybody can evaluate and assess using just a questionnaire. Moreover, while practicing 'projectives' (a certain type of psychological test), one needs specialized training. It's just a humble suggestion that if anybody wishes to do competency mapping, they should have a deep understanding of the subject. If practiced correctly, it will be of great use.

In my opinion, one can suggest a medicine or two based on experience for a particular disease. However, to achieve mastery, they must have passed at least MBBS or have equivalent knowledge of the subject.