Adoption of competence management practices by industries in an emerging country: an analysis via fuzzy TOPSIS
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine competence management practices in Brazilian industries using ISO 10015 as a framework of analysis, which establishes guidelines for competence management and people development.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was conducted with 22 high-qualified human resources management (HRM) professionals (81.8% of participants hold a PhD) with extensive experience in the Brazilian industrial sector (an average of 20.4 years). The experts assessed 13 practices (P) elaborated based on the ISO 10015:2020, considering two categories: large industries (LI) and small and medium-sized industries (SMI). Data analysis was performed using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, frequency analysis, Fuzzy TOPSIS and sensitivity analysis.
Findings
The practice “individual competences are correctly defined by organizations at all hierarchical levels” was deemed the best practice for LIs, while the practice “clear definition of activities and their specificities when structuring competence management and people development programs” was considered the best practice for SMIs. The practice “organizations map employees' future competence and development needs on a regular basis” received the lowest rating for both LIs and SMIs. When compared to LIs, SMIs have more severe deficiencies in applying competence management practices. The study's findings can be of great value in assisting managers in implementing structured competence management systems and people development initiatives.
Practical implications
The findings of this study can be used by managers of businesses of all sizes and economic sectors to analyze their critical points in order to identify opportunities to improve their competence management systems and people development programs.
Originality/value
This study fills a knowledge gap by analyzing the adoption of competence management practices in Brazil, answering the call for HRM research in developing countries. By using ISO 10015 as a framework of analysis, this study also addresses the literature gap regarding this important and relatively new management tool.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for the support of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq/Brazil) under the grants n0 304145/2021-1 and n0 303924/2021-7.
Corrigendum: It has come to the attention of the publisher that the article Santos, J.V.B.d., Sigahi, T.F.A.C., Rampasso, I.S., Moraes, G.H.S.M.d., Ávila, L.V., Leal Filho, W. and Anholon, R. (2023), “Adoption of competence management practices by industries in an emerging country: an analysis via fuzzy TOPSIS”, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-05-2023-0399 did not include full details of all affiliation details at initial submission.
Our guidelines state that the ScholarOne record must accurately include all affiliation details at initial submission.
Rampasso, I.S.’s affiliation has been amended from School of Mechanical Engineering, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil, PNPD/CAPES Program, Doctoral Program in Sustainable Management Systems, Federal Fluminense University, Niteroi, Brazil to Departamento de Ingeniería Industrial, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.
Citation
Santos, J.V.B.d., Sigahi, T.F.A.C., Rampasso, I.S., Moraes, G.H.S.M.d., Ávila, L.V., Leal Filho, W. and Anholon, R. (2023), "Adoption of competence management practices by industries in an emerging country: an analysis via fuzzy TOPSIS", Personnel Review, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-05-2023-0399
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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