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Effects of career‐related continuous learning on competencies

Jens Rowold (University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany)
Simone Kauffeld (Department of Work, Organizational and Social Psychology, University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany)

Personnel Review

ISSN: 0048-3486

Article publication date: 1 January 2009

3983

Abstract

Purpose

The present study aims to examine how employees' formal (e.g. off‐the‐job training) and informal (e.g. discussion with colleagues) career‐related continuous learning (CRCL) activities affect the development of self‐reported work‐related competencies.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were 372 employees working in one of 19 companies from a wide range of industries in Germany.

Findings

Results revealed that informal CRCL affected professional, method, and social competencies. In addition, employees' participation in formal CRCL activities that focused on social issues was positively related to social competencies. Three types of competencies (professional, method, and social) are distinguished in the present study.

Research limitations/implications

Additional influences on competency such as motivation and commitment should be controlled for in future studies. Also, competencies should be rated by supervisors. Objective measures of formal CRCL should be assessed.

Practical implications

Organizations that aim to enchance employees' level of competencies should invest in informal CRCL and formal CRCL activities that focus on social competencies. The fact that the study was conducted in a variety of firms supports the idea that the findings could be generalized to other industrial settings.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate positive effects of CRCL on employees' levels of social competencies. In addition, the value of informal CRCL for the development of competencies was highlighted.

Keywords

Citation

Rowold, J. and Kauffeld, S. (2009), "Effects of career‐related continuous learning on competencies", Personnel Review, Vol. 38 No. 1, pp. 90-101. https://doi.org/10.1108/00483480910920732

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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