Defining Generic Professional Competencies in Australia: Towards a Framework for Professional Development

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which there are competencies which are generic to professions in Australia. The seven professions of accountancy, architecture, human resource management, marketing, social work, and teaching from around Australia were surveyed using an 80-item question naire. The questionnaire was developed by reviewing the literature on profes sional competencies; workshopping with representatives of the professional groups with nominal group technique and small group discussion; and using a preliminary study of individuals in four professional groups. A factor analysis, accounting for 51.9 percent of the total variance, extracted nine factors: Problem-solving, Others Orientation, Professional Involvement, Inter nal Frame of Reference, Emotional Competence, Influencing, Organizational Knowledge, Proactivity, and Client Orientation. This study discusses the impli cations of these results for the education of professionals, for human resource managers involved in the selection, training and development of professionals, and for the transition of professionals to managers. These issues are of increas ing importance to human resource managers in their role as developers of organizational capability.