Job Competencies of Border Security Officers in Singapore

Abstract

Border security officers are a country’s first line of defense against undesirable people, cargo, and conveyances. Operational lapses could therefore greatly undermine the safety and security of the country. As such, informed understanding of border security officers’ competencies is crucial to ensure that the right individuals are selected for the job. An exploratory job analysis study was conducted with Singapore’s border security officers to identify the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) essential for effective job performance. Data collection for this study includes collection of qualitative data on border security officers’ job functions, tasks, and KSAOs required. The information was subsequently compiled into a Job Analysis Survey (JAS), where officers were asked to rate the KSAOs in terms of their importance and frequency of use in border security work. Results indicated that the major job functions performed by non-supervisory officers include primary immigration clearance of travelers and goods, while those performed by supervisory officers include secondary clearance and people management. Analysis of the list of KSAOs derived from the Job Analysis results revealed that there was generally a large overlap of KSAOs essential for both non-supervisory and supervisory officers to perform their job well. Some differences were observed as well due to the slightly different nature of work undertaken by the two groups of officers. The results of the present study along with its implications were further explored in the paper.