Are there different types of competency modeling efforts?
Yes, there are at least 2 distinctly different types of competency modeling: • Bottom-Up Approach The first type involves first examining job/person attributes at the individual job level, focusing on what competencies are needed for a person in this particular job to be successful. This approach typically involves identifying the major tasks of the position, along with the relevant KSAOs that help individuals in this position to perform those tasks. This type of competency modeling effort is sometimes referred to as ‘bottom-up’ or individual/job focused competency modeling, because it focuses on the ground level details of the job as they are performed by the employee, which is in contrast to the top-down approach, discussed next. • Top-Down Approach The second type of competency model typically begins with a meeting of senior-level managers to determine the strategy, goals, mission, and values of the organization, Then this information is funneled down to see how individual jobs, job
