Competency Based Structures

What is competency-based training (or CBT)?
Training which develops the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to achieve competency standards. (NTIS, 2007)

What is a competency standard?
The concept of competency focuses on what is expected of an employee in the workplace rather than on the learning process; and embodies the ability to transfer and apply skills and knowledge to new situations and environments. This is a broad concept of competency in that all aspects of work performance, and not only narrow task skills, are included. It encompasses:

• the requirement to perform individual tasks (task skills)
• the requirement to manage a number of different tasks within the job (task management skills)
• the requirement to respond to irregularities and breakdowns in routine (contingency management skills)
• the requirement to deal with the responsibilities and expectations of work environment (job/role environment skills), including working with others

What is competency based remuneration structure?
The underlying objectives of any compensation system are to attract, motivate and retain good staff. But which compensation system is most likely to achieve that goal? The answer, not surprisingly, is that it depends. Only a choice about what's right for your particular organisation. There are many variations to choose from however they can be categorised as either base pay or performance pay.

As mentioned above, competencies are the knowledge-skills and the attitude needed by any individual employee to carry out their job effectively. These can be incorporated into a pay system to reward individuals who positively contribute to the overall values and objectives of your organisation. This is competency based pay: rewarding the way people work, not just recognising what they can deliver.