COMPETENCY

A definition of ‘Competency’

“The description of the knowledge, skills, experience and attributes necessary to carry out a defined function effectively.”
In other words competencies describe what has to be done and how well. Competence is doing the required things to the required standard. Competence in a job therefore means being competent at all aspects of each function (competency) required to be performed within the role.

A witness's ability to observe, recall and recount under other what happened. Criminal defendants must also be competent to stand trial; they must understand the nature of the proceedings and have the ability to assist their lawyers.
-focuses on what is required of an employee in the workplace rather than on the learning process. It embodies the ability to transfer and apply skills and knowledge to new situations and environments. The National Training Board defines Competency as, "the knowledge and skill and the application of that knowledge and skill across industries or within an industry, to the standard of performance required in employment."

-The knowledge and experience needed to conduct surveillance and evaluation.

COMPONENTS OF COMPETENCY

There are four major components of competency:
1.SKILL: capabilities acquired through practice. It can be a financial skill such as budgeting, or a verbal skill such as making a presentation.
2.KNOWLEDGE: understanding acquired through learning. This refers to a body of information relevant to job performance. It is what people have to know to be able to perform a job, such as knowledge of policies and procedures for a recruitment process.
3.PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES: inherent characteristics which are brought to the job, representing the essential foundation upon which knowledge and skill can be developed.
4.BEHAVIOR: The observable demonstration of some competency, skill, knowledge and personal attributes. It is an essentially definitive expression of a competency in that it is a set of action that, presumably, can be observed, taught, learned, and measured.