The research method adopted for this study is concept mapping (Kane & Trochim, 2007; Trochim,
1989). Concept mapping is a process that incorporates a range of group activities (e.g. participatory
brainstorming, unstructured idea sorting and rating tasks) which are analysed to produce visual
concept maps (Kane & Trochim, 2007). The resulting concept maps show how ideas are organised
into conceptual clusters, interrelationships among the concepts and the relative importance among the
conceptual clusters. Concept mapping has been applied in Page, Wilson and Kolb’s (1994) study on
managerial competencies as well as a number of organisational studies (e.g., Burchell & Kolb, 2003;
Legget, 2009). A meta-analysis of 33 concept mapping research projects conducted by Trochim
(1993) found that concept mapping is a reliable method according to generally-recognised standards
for acceptable reliability levels. Concept mapping is therefore chosen for this study as it provides a
means to measure the interrelationships between HR competency concepts and compare the perceived
importance of HR competency groupings between strategic and functional HR practitioners. The
concepts mapping process adopted for this study involves five steps which are outlined in Figure 1: