The use of competencies in human resource management is not something new, although the approach is still characterised by a certain confusion related to what competencies are and how they should be measured (Shippmann et al., 2000). Difficulties with the operation and implementation of competency management systems are mostly related to the complex and lengthy process required for identifying the appropriate competencies for an organisation and for building the appropriate
competency model Athey and Orth (1999).