paul erricker, the project academy
DESCRIPTION
This presentation was given by Paul Erricker at the APM Education Forum 2014. The presentation covers what competences are, how industry defines and assesses them, which competences are in demand in industry and an example of a programme preparing students to move into employment and hit the ground running.TRANSCRIPT
Competence
An Industry Perspective
Paul Erricker – The Project Academy Limited
What we will cover
What are competences?
What is industry doing to: Define competence requirements?
Assess competence?
Use competences to support career paths?
The graduate skills perspective
Which competences are in demand?
Excellence with Industry case study
What are “competences”?
Or is that “competencies"?
Definition
Components
How are Competencies Used?
Benefits
Training & development – to fill the gaps Resourcing – selection for different roles Career paths – clarify the stepping stones Succession Planning – identify talent and nurture it Plus many more
Defining Competence
Industry Perspective
Define
What skills do you need in your PM
community?
Assess
What skills do you have in your PM
community?
Deliver Application of
learning on live projects to ensure
performance improvement
Develop
Targeting the best skills development to achieve project
success
Good practice – industry model
Competence Indicators
© APM 2011
Example behavioural framework
Customer Focus
Responds professionally and creatively to satisfy the needs of customers to the mutual benefit of both businesses. Strives to exceed their expectations and promote our business as a deliverer of the best customer service within the industry.
A B C D E F G H
Aware / Learning Able / Applying Knowledge Proficient / Skilled / Guiding Strategic / Expert / Role
Model
Takes personal responsibility for ensuring that every customer gets what they need and has a professional, courteous and effective experience of the business
Builds and maintains strong relationships with customers – anticipates their needs and strives to ensure the customer receives high quality service at all times.
Creates a climate of partnership with customers in which they and their staff receive the highest quality of service, and the business is seen to add tangible, long-term value to the customer’s business
Creates a business culture in which outstanding service to customers is recognised and valued throughout the company. Demonstrates a profound understanding and interest in the success of customer businesses
Takes an active interest in discovering and understanding the customer’s business requirements, and how to assist in successful delivery
Courteous, polite and respectful, open and honest in dealings with customers
Takes personal ownership for sorting out customer problems and delivering high standards of service
Responds effectively and professionally to customer issues and takes appropriate action
Passes on information and feedback from customers to the appropriate departments or team members quickly and clearly
Seeks to understand the customer’s needs and requirements against the broader business background – asking relevant questions, listening to feedback and suggesting appropriate actions
Creates trust and confidence in their dealings with customers and is recognised as a credible representative of the business
Builds strong rapport with customer staff to get the job done more effectively and deliver against customer performance measures
Helps team colleagues to assess and improve their own levels of customer service
Demonstrates pride in the quality of our product and our service delivery
Listens to customer requirements carefully - offers ideas and suggestions that support the customer’s broader business requirements
challenges their thinking appropriately, and helps them to see the value of a continuing business partnership
Adapts their style and approach to respond to a diverse population of customer needs and preferences
Develops client relationships that enable difficult issues to be openly aired and resolved
Goes the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction is met in full – and exceeded
Develops strong networks with customer’s staff
Creates relationships of mutual trust and collaboration with customers to develop improved services and build sustainable long-term partnership
Develops a relationship–driven culture that ensures customer focus is a genuine belief across the business
Demonstrates an understanding of the customer’s internal culture and politics – including their practical impact on their business strategy and potential impact for our business
Builds close relationships with key influencers across the customer’s business and at the highest levels - seeks to understand the complex range of factors affecting their business decisions and aspirations, and finds mutually beneficial strategies
Provides customers with innovative solutions which address current and future needs for both parties
Pro-active in seeking and securing customer input into the development of our joint businesses
Example Framework – Change Control
Role Profiling
Assessing competence
Industry Perspective
To expand the competency and Rate yourself, simply click the Competency name on the left
You can then rate your level of knowledge and experience at the
detail level if you prefer, the software will then calculate
your overall rating.
Portfolio of Evidence
Panel Reviews
1-2-1 Skills Reviews
Personalised summary report Personalised skills “Gap Graph”
Clarity of career vision
Development needs and
actions
Personal strengths
Validation of self-scores
Skills comparison versus role
profile
Above role profile
At role profile
Below role profile
Consolidated Analysis
Getting the development focus right
Assessment analysis identifying development requires more focus on practical application, opposed to knowledge
Radar chart of knowledge assessment against role profile
Radar chart of experience assessment against role profile
Which competences are in demand?
Balance of Competences
Technical Behavioural
What about domain competence?
Generic Competences
Sector Specific Competences
How much domain expertise?
Different sector environment
Same capability to deliver ???
RPP - What the profession asked for
Supporting career paths
Industry Perspective
Novice Proficient Expert
Increasing Leadership Competence
Manage Self
Manage Others
Manage Managers
Functional Manager
Business Manager
Group Manager
Enterprise Manager
Career Transition
Technical Specialist
Career
Project Management
Career
Programme Management
Career
Portfolio Management
Career
Business Management
Career
Career Transitions
Novice Proficient Expert
Increasing Leadership Competence
Manage Self
Manage Others
Manage Managers
Functional Manager
Business Manager
Group Manager
Enterprise Manager
Career Transition
Technical Specialist
Career
Project Management
Career
Programme Management
Career
Portfolio Management
Career
Business Management
Career
Career Transitions
2
2
3
1 1 5
5 4
4 6
6
6 6
Matching competence to the role
RPP IPMA B
Practitioner Qualification
IPMA C
APMP IPMA D
Prog & Port Mgt
IPMA A
~ 5000
~ 7500
Possible spread of skill
levels project organisations
need
Introductory Certificate -
IPMA
Levels
Proportions of PPM
qualifications actually taken
~ 250
~ 150
0
How will we meet this
challenge?
Excellence With Industry
Case Study
Who was involved?
Excellence With Industry - Overview
Excellence With Industry Programme
Masters Degree Year 1
Masters Degree Year 2
Masters Degree Year 3
Masters Degree Year 4
Graduate Career
EWI Career Transition Period
Normal Career Transition Period
Hit the ground running
Add value
sooner
Faster career
progression
Breakdown of programme
2 x Industry Modules
Level 3 Dissertation in industry
Level 4 Dissertation in industry
Assessments – joint between University and Industry
Graduate Career
Masters Year 3 Masters Year 3 Summer
break Summer
break Degree
2 x Industry Modules
EWI
EWI (assessment)
Interviews with
Industry
Formal Offers
Career
Performance Measurement
Some key results
Excellence With Industry Programme: • Ran for 4 successful years • Kick-started the career of over 40 talent young people • Demonstrated how industry and academia can collaborate • Over-subscribed each year • Gained a national award
• All students passed their Masters Degrees with minimum 2:1 • All were offered graduate careers • Students were deemed AT LEAST 6 months ahead of “standard graduates” • Strong evidence of faster career progression and increased responsibility • Graduate retention has been far higher than normal
Why? Because they possess the right competences needed by industry
Thank you
And, over to you!