Tag: competency

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A competency approach to developing leaders – is this approach effective?

Author/s: Patricia Richards

Edition: Volume 48, Number 1, April 2008

Summary: This paper examines the underlying assumptions that competency based frameworks are based upon in relation to leadership development. It examines the impetus for this framework becoming the prevailing theoretical base for developing leaders and tracks the historical path to this phenomenon. Research suggests that a competency-based framework may not be the most appropriate tool in leadership development across many organisations, despite the existence of these tools in those organisations, and reasons for this are offered. Varying approaches to developing effective leaders are considered and it is suggested that leading is complex as it requires both competencies and qualities in order for a person to be an effective leader. It is argued that behaviourally-based competencies only cater to a specific part of the equation when they relate to leadership development.

Keywords: competency, frameworks, leadership, behaviour

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Effective employment-based training models for childcare workers

Author/s: Sarojni Choy and Sandra Haukka

Edition: Volume 50, Number 1, April 2010

Summary: Childcare workers play a significant role in the learning and development of children in their care. This has major implications for the training of workers. Under new reforms of the childcare industry, the Australian government now requires all workers to obtain qualifications from a vocational education and training provider (e.g. Technical and Further Education) or university. Effective models of employment-based training are critical to provide training to highly competent workers. This paper presents findings from a study that examined current and emerging models of employment-based training in the childcare sector, particularly at the Diploma level. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 16 participants who represented childcare directors, employers and workers located in childcare services in urban, regional and remote locations in the State of Queensland. The study proposes a ‘best-fit’ employment-based training approach that is characterised by a compendium of five models instead of a ‘one size fits all’. Issues with successful implementation of employment-based training models are also discussed.

Keywords: childcare, learning, development, children, competency, employment-based training, diploma

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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 50_1. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.