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Commitment, control, and the use of competency management

Hanneke Heinsman (Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Annebel H.B. de Hoogh (Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Paul L. Koopman (Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Jaap J. van Muijen (Institute for Leadership and Personal Development, Nyenrode Business Universiteit, Breukelen, The Netherlands)

Personnel Review

ISSN: 0048-3486

Article publication date: 19 September 2008

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of the commitment‐ and control‐approaches on the use of competency management, and to investigate whether attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control mediate these effects.

Design/methodology/approach

In Study 1, using a survey, employees indicated whether their organization adopted a commitment‐ or a control‐approach towards competency management. Moreover, they rated their own attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, and behaviour. In Study 2 a scenario experiment was conducted in which the authors manipulated the commitment‐ and control‐approaches towards competency management in order to establish causal relations.

Findings

Results consistently showed that the use of competency management is higher within a commitment‐ than within a control‐approach. Furthermore, attitude and perceived behavioural control were found to mediate the relationship between the commitment‐approach and the use of competency management.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should include other organizational members, for example (line) managers, to create future insight in the effects of commitment‐ and control‐approaches on the use of competency management.

Practical implications

The results of the studies highlight that a commitment‐oriented approach increases the use of competency management by employees and that a positive employee attitude and perceived behavioural control are of considerable importance when increasing the use of competency management is an organization's primary goal.

Originality/value

The paper gives insight in how to persuade and stimulate employees to use competency management more frequently.

Keywords

Citation

Heinsman, H., de Hoogh, A.H.B., Koopman, P.L. and van Muijen, J.J. (2008), "Commitment, control, and the use of competency management", Personnel Review, Vol. 37 No. 6, pp. 609-628. https://doi.org/10.1108/00483480810906865

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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