Public Dissertation Defense - Eng Mgt 1/27/14
<p> What: Public dissertation defense for Joe Bradley</p> <p> When: Monday January 27<sup>th</sup>, 2014 2:30-4:00pm</p> <p> Where: National Centers for System of Systems Engineering Lab, Innovation Research Park 1, Suite 406, 4111 Monarch Way</p> <p> Title: Systems Theory Based Framework for Competency Models</p> <p> Of Significant Interest: Inductive Research Design, Grounded Theory based methodology, Competency Models and Modeling</p> <p> </p> <p> ABSTRACT</p> <p> </p> <p> The purpose of this research was to develop and apply a systems theoretic framework for design, analysis and transformation of competency models using an inductive research design. This research examines the origins and development of competency models from a systems theoretic perspective. Competency models have been largely developed by a comparative method first proposed by McClelland, or the use of Delphi method survey techniques. The assumption that a population containing an exemplar and fully successful members would enable population of a holistic competency model has reported numerous failures. Similarly, reporting on the use of Delphi methods has focused on attempting to refine or augment Delphi methods to fill gaps in the competency models that are already in use. Rothwell and Lindholm called for methods that will reduce the backward looking bias of current competency development models. The literature of systems theory is applied to the concept of competency models via inductive theory building using Whewell’s Discoverer's Induction supported by the structure of grounded theory. A competency model framework was developed that represents a distillation and synthesis of systems theory literature. The resulting framework can be used to design, assess and transform new or existing competency models. A single extant model was examined with the competency model framework revealing competency model inconsistencies that can be closed in a transformation effort.</p> <p> This research represents a fundamentally new approach to the construction of competency models, focused on a theoretical outlook rather than the dominant pragmatic approaches in use today. Additionally, the use of Discoverer’s Induction as the methodology, in conjunction with the methods of grounded theory represents a methodological contribution to theory building due to the rarity of the combination.</p> <p> </p>
Posted By: Charles Keating
Date: Wed Jan 22 19:45:14 EST 2014