Strategic Improvement of Workplace Competence I: Breaking Out of the Incompetence Trap

Abstract

Workplace competence is necessary for organizational survival in todayws world. Development of a competent workforce must occur in spite of growing shortages of qualified people, increasing technological complexity, and increasing international competition. Workplace competence can be improved significantly by using a strategy that enables everyone from top managers to entry level workers to learn new knowledge, skills, and attitudes while they do worthwhile projects. However, three major challenges must be met before the strategy can be used widely enough to have a positive economic and social impact at local, state, regional and national levels. We must 1) improve the supply of human performance technologists capable of serving the needs of small organizations, 2) help managers learn to exert strong leadership without disrupting teamwork, and 3) build a track record so that the strategy can be adopted by the prudent business person and supported by the financial and educational communities.