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The essence of the competence concept: Adopting an organization's sustained competitive advantage viewpoint

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  • Chen, Hai Ming
  • Chang, Wen Yen

Abstract

Previous scholars considered competence a ‘fuzzy concept’ and addressed confusions such as ‘competency vs. competence’ and ‘competence vs. core competence’. However, the issue ‘What is the essence of employee competence?’ remains unclear. By inference, the essence of competence is addressed in adoption of an organization's sustained competitive advantage viewpoint different from the traditional viewpoint of enhancing individual employability. This paper contends that employee competence is strategically driven by organizational core competence. Psychologically, employee competence and organizational core competence are similar and linked in terms of person–organization fit and person–job fit. A contextual competence framework is established enlightening the essence of employee competence and redefines competence as a ‘temporary asset’ rooted in the interactively organizational context. Contextual variables including shared values, mutual trust and mutual investment bolster the alignment between employee competence and organizational core competence and develop employee competence as firm-specific, thus becoming a source for sustained organizational competitive advantage.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Hai Ming & Chang, Wen Yen, 2010. "The essence of the competence concept: Adopting an organization's sustained competitive advantage viewpoint," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(5), pages 677-699, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:jomorg:v:16:y:2010:i:05:p:677-699_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Yong-Sun Chang & Jian Hui Guo & Joel M. Evans, 2023. "Flexible but stable: the mediated influence of an organization’s culture on performance," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(1), pages 463-492, February.
    2. Arta Antonovica & Javier Esteban Curiel & Beatriz Rodríguez Herráez, 2023. "Factors that determine the degree of fulfilment of expectations for entrepreneurs from the business incubator programmes," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 261-291, March.
    3. Patricia Fuel & Manuela Pardo-del-Val & Lorenzo Revuelto-Taboada, 2022. "Does the ideal entrepreneurial team exist?," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 1263-1289, September.
    4. Michalski, Marina P. & Śliwa, Martyna, 2021. "‘If you use the right Arabic…’: Responses to special language standardization within the BBC Arabic Service’s linguascape," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(5).

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