A Perspective on Competencies by Hale Associates.

Competencies are the knowledge and skills required of the cognitive and physical behaviors defined as critical to an enterprise’s success. They go beyond capability to include performance or execution; that is, competencies include actually doing what is expected and doing it to the level expected. They are more than just knowing how to do something.

Defining the competencies for a specific act give people language for discussing the factors they think contribute to performance and how that performance relates to getting results the organization values. Competencies are used as hiring and promotion criteria, guide development programs, and form the
basis of credentialing programs. Competencies can also be thought of in terms of their scope.