Analysis and management of organisational competences

This paper sets out new approaches to the analysis, evaluation and management of organisational competence in manufacturing businesses. Competence concepts have received increasing attention over recent years, complementing the popular market and competitor positioning views of the 1970s and 80s. Ideas of organisational competence have immediate appeal to practitioners and have sound theoretical underpinnings in economics, through the so-called `resource-based´ view of the firm. Attempts to operationalise competence principles have, however, not been universally successful. Issues of definition, measurement and interpretation pose significant difficulties, the ongoing management of competences, once they have been established, is not straight forward. This paper presents the results of a programme of industry-based research involving deep engagement with manufacturing businesses, and the development and validation of tools and techniques for competence analysis evaluation and management. A brief review of literature is followed by summaries of cases which illustrate key aspects of competence analysis evaluation management, leading to an exposition of recommended directions for competence research and practice