The Competency Niche: An Exploratory Study
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
3. Materials and Methods
4. Results and Discussion
5. Conclusions
- the most crucial factor determining the competence of employees is the company’s environment, which at the same time sets specific requirements;
- employees showed no interest in participating in changes until external factors force them to do so; and
- employees were not familiar with the weak signal methodology. However, identification of early signs of upcoming events is crucial to the rapid elimination of competency niches. Rapid identification of upcoming threats or opportunities enables a company to move ahead of other companies, adapt to new requirements, and gain a competitive advantage. It is also crucial to the well-known (to theorists and practitioners) agile approach. Employees must, therefore, actively participate in the process of identifying weak signals in their companies. We found that firms knew little about how to use the weak signals methodology to reduce the competency niche both in theory and practice.
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Industry | Number of Employees | Number of Respondents |
---|---|---|
Accounting company | 94 | 34 |
Power engineering | >250 | 88 |
Food manufacturing | >250 | 54 |
Transport company | 68 | 17 |
Food wholesaler | 58 | 12 |
Industrial wholesaler | 96 | 16 |
Delivery company | 81 | 42 |
Consulting company | <50 | 19 |
Which Factors Most Influence Employees’ Competencies? | Respondents | |
---|---|---|
N | % | |
indoor environment | 51 | 18% |
outdoor environment | 231 | 82% |
Total | 282 | 100% |
Test Chi square = 1,148,936; df = 1; p = 0.000000. |
How Does the Environment Affect Employees’ Competencies? | Respondents | |
---|---|---|
N | % | |
exacts change | 180 | 64% |
supports change | 79 | 28% |
hinders change | 23 | 8% |
Total | 282 | 100% |
Test Chi square = 1,347,021; df = 2; p = 0.000000. |
How Do Employees Engage in Changes to Their Competencies? | Respondents | |
---|---|---|
N | % | |
active counteracting of changes | 9 | 3% |
lack of involvement | 39 | 14% |
supporting changes | 161 | 57% |
Inspiration | 73 | 26% |
Total | 282 | 100% |
Test Chi square = 1,839,858; df = 3; p = 0.000000. |
How Are Competencies Assessed with respect to the Requirements of the Environment? | Respondents | |
---|---|---|
N | % | |
Very high | 68 | 24% |
Appropriate | 163 | 58% |
Insufficient | 51 | 18% |
Total | 282 | 100% |
Test Chi square = 7,751,064; df = 2; p = 0.000000. |
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Dobrowolski, Z.; Drozdowski, G.; Ledzianowski, J. The Competency Niche: An Exploratory Study. Risks 2021, 9, 187. https://doi.org/10.3390/risks9110187
Dobrowolski Z, Drozdowski G, Ledzianowski J. The Competency Niche: An Exploratory Study. Risks. 2021; 9(11):187. https://doi.org/10.3390/risks9110187
Chicago/Turabian StyleDobrowolski, Zbysław, Grzegorz Drozdowski, and Józef Ledzianowski. 2021. "The Competency Niche: An Exploratory Study" Risks 9, no. 11: 187. https://doi.org/10.3390/risks9110187