Simplifying the manager competency model by using the rough set approach

Abstract

It is now a leading company strategy to apply competency models for identifying and developing capabilities of their managers. However, a competency model usually contains too many intended competencies to be implemented. Recently, some scholars and experts argue that eight is the maximum for managers to assess. Hence, how to simplify the manager competency model is becoming an important issue. Well known as data mining techniques, the rough sets theory is a relatively new approach and good at data reduction in qualitative analysis, so that the rough set approach is suitable for dealing with the qualitative problem in simplifying the competency model. The aim of this paper is to mining the minimal set of competencies through using the rough set approach to help companies for better utilizing the competency model. The results show that the "self-management" competency is the most indispensable portion to a manager competency model.