Managerial Competency Modeling And Assessment Tool Development For Manufacturing Industry

Some researchers think that the impact of situational factors on the managerial competency from job to job vary so much that it is impossible to develop a common managerial competency modeling for most managerial positions. Spencer and Spencer (1993) suggested that superior managers of all types and levels share a general profile of competencies. They are more like each other than they are like the individual contributors. From the relatively limited study on this area, it seems that both arguments have valid and invalid points. In such case that the relationship between situational factors and managerial competency is not explicit, Nordhaug (1998) suggested his competency classification theory. He thought that competency could be classified per task-specificity, industry-specificity and firm-specificity. His theory provides a good theoretical foundation for our study. Unfortunately, he did not establish the specific industry competency structure, especially the industry managerial competency models and how to measure the managerial competencies with industry characteristics.On the basis of Nordhaug's research, we take manufacturing industry for our study object. We started with analyzing industry characteristics, and identified managerial competencies, then modified and improved the competency indexes by behavior incidents interview and Delphi technique. On the basis of competency indexes, we explored and validated the managerial competency model by two questionnaire surveys. In addition, we tested the impacts of various background factors on competencies. The result shows that manufacturing managerial competency model is composed of six dimensions, which are industry core conception, external relationship establishment, manufacturing process control, product systematical management, product R&D and innovation, marketing and planning. Various managerial levels, enterprises scale, management experience have impacts on competency dimensions and indexes.According to the instrumental definition of competencies, we developed the assessment tool for managerial competency by interview, questionnaire survey and subject-matter expert, and established the situational judgment items, behavioral alternatives and scoring rubric for future formal assessment.This study not only theoretically fills up the gaps in the area of competency research, and furthers the Nordhaug's competency classification theory, but in practice develops the effective measurement tool for managerial competency of manufacturing industry. This assessment tool can be adapt by the department of human resource management, especially by the company of headhunting, the center of qualified personnel interflowing, etc., so have a wide-ranging market in selling the assessment tool. On the other hand, research on the managerial competency of manufacturing industry, will provide guide of method in performance appraisal, training development, succession plan for professional managers.