International Perspectives on Competence in the Workplace (eBook)

Foreword 5
Contents 7
Contributors 9
Introduction 12
Theme One Competence in the Workplace: A Focus on Industry and Vocational Education Contexts 17
Chapter 1 18
Understanding of Work: The Basis for Competence Development 18
1.1 Human Competence – What Is It? 18
1.2 Competence as an Attribute-Based Phenomenon 19
1.3 From Attributes to Understanding as the Basis for Competence Development 21
1.3.1 Understanding as the Basis for What CompetenceWe Develop at Work 21
1.3.2 Understanding as the Basis for How We Develop Competence at Work 23
1.4 How Does Understanding Operate? 25
1.4.1 The Circular Nature of Understanding 25
1.4.2 Understanding as Intrinsically Historical 26
1.4.3 Understanding as a Fundamental Dimension in Human Existence 27
1.5 Competence Development as Refining or Transforming Understanding of Work 30
1.5.1 Reflection: a Key for Developing Competence 32
1.6 Conclusion 33
References 34
Chapter 2 36
Exploring Opportunities for Collaborative Linkages in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Sector 36
2.1 Introduction 36
2.2 Background to the Research 37
2.3 Research Process 41
2.4 Observations 41
2.5 Discussion 42
2.6 Implications for Research, Policy and Practice 44
References 46
Chapter 3 48
Workplace Competence: Integrating Social and Personal Perspectives 48
3.1 Workplace Competence 48
3.2 Occupational and Workplace Requirements 49
3.3 Diversity in Work Requirements 50
3.4 Work Requirements as Subjective and Person-Dependent Phenomena 53
3.5 Work Activities and Interactions: Dual Bases of Workplace Competence 54
3.5.1 Work Activities 55
3.5.1.1 Routineness of Work Activities 55
3.5.1.2 Degrees of Work Specialisation 56
3.5.1.3 Intensity of Work Activities 57
3.5.1.4 Work Requirements are Becoming More Conceptual 58
3.5.1.5 Discretionary Qualities of Work 60
3.5.1.6 Complexity of Work Activities 61
3.5.1.7 Work and Work Activities 62
3.5.2 Workplace Interactions 63
3.5.2.1 Working with Others 64
3.5.2.2 Interactions with Tools and Artefacts 66
3.6 Elaborating Workplace Competence 67
References 68
Theme Two Competence in the Workplace: A Focus on Schools and Colleges 70
Chapter 4 71
The Changing Context of Business Education: Competency Requirements for the New Paradigm 71
4.1 Introduction 71
4.2 Background to the Study 72
4.3 Competency-Based Education and Training 77
4.4 New Issues and Areas 84
4.5 Study One 87
4.5.1 Research Process 88
4.5.2 Findings and Discussions 88
4.6 Study Two 91
4.6.1 Research Process 91
4.6.2 Findings and Discussions 92
4.7 Implications for Research, Policy and Practice 94
References 95
Chapter 5 100
Professional Competencies: Perspectives and Challenges for the Tertiary Sector 100
5.1 Introduction 101
5.2 University Perspective of Professional Competencies 102
5.3 The Relational Model of Competence 104
5.4 Perceptions of Professional Competencies 106
5.5 The Assessment of Competence 107
5.6 Conclusion 110
References 110
Chapter 6 113
Employers’ Perceptions of Graduate Outcomes: A Case Study of a Private College in Shanghai 113
6.1 Introduction 113
6.2 Literature Review 114
6.2.1 The Status of Higher Vocational Education in China 114
6.2.2 Perceptions of Higher Vocational Education in China 115
6.2.3 Models of Higher Vocational Education 115
6.2.4 Employers’ Conceptions about the Relationship between Education and Management Skills 116
6.2.5 Conceptions of Modern Management: East and West 116
6.2.6 Employers’ Perceptions about the Different Usages of the Chinese Education System 117
6.2.7 Graduate Outcomes: Similarities and Differences between the East and West 118
6.2.7.1 The West 119
6.2.7.2 The East 120
6.3 Research Design 121
6.4 Data Collection 121
6.4.1 Limitations 122
6.5 Results 122
6.5.1 Employers’ Perceptions about Characteristics/Qualities of Graduates and Future Trends 122
6.5.1.1 Employers’ Past/Current Involvement with the College 122
6.5.1.2 Employers’ Perceptions of Importance of Graduates’ Characteristics/Qualities 123
6.5.1.3 Employers’ Perception of Future Trends, Courses and College Involvement 124
6.6 Discussion 125
6.7 Conclusion and Implications for Further Research 126
6.8 Appendix 1 127
References 130
Theme Three Competence in the Workplace: A Focus on Small Business and Companies 132
Chapter 7 133
Workplace Trainers in Enterprises: Merging and Emerging Areas of Practice 133
7.1 Introduction 133
7.2 Competence Development for the Workplace 134
7.3 The Studies 137
7.4 Workplace Trainers Who Are Embedded in Workplaces as Trainers 137
7.5 VET Teachers as Trainers in Enterprises 141
7.6 Different Types of Workplace Trainers 143
References 145
Chapter 8 148
Developing Entrepreneurial Competencies Through Dilemma Reconciliation 148
8.1 Introduction 148
8.2 Entrepreneurial Competencies 149
8.2.1 The Competency Approach in Management Studies 149
8.2.2 Entrepreneurial Competencies 150
8.3 Dilemmas and Paradoxes in Management Theory 152
8.3.1 Defining Dilemmas and Paradoxes 152
8.3.2 The ‘Thinking’ Behind Dilemmas and Paradoxes 153
8.3.3 Reconciling Paradoxes – A Dynamic Competency 154
8.4 Methodology 155
8.5 Findings 157
8.5.1 Descriptive Statistics 157
8.5.1.1 Entrepreneurs’ EDRA, EDRT, and EDRC findings 157
8.5.2 Comparisons Between Entrepreneurs and Managers 159
8.5.3 Comparisons Between First-Time Entrepreneurs and Five Serial Entrepreneurs 160
8.6 Conclusion 162
References 163
Chapter 9 167
Learning Environments of Employees in Knowledge-Intensive Company Units 167
9.1 Introduction 167
9.2 A Theoretical Understanding of Learning Environments 168
9.3 Delimitation of Learning Environments 169
9.4 Reports on Learning Environments 170
9.5 The Character of the Learning Involved 173
9.6 An Empirical Investigation 174
9.7 Data Collection and Analysis 174
9.8 The Society System Part of Learning Environments 175
9.9 A Formal Relations Part of Learning Environments 177
9.9.1 Learning as Incentive 177
9.9.2 Certification 177
9.9.3 Learning Alliances 178
9.10 The Organisational Part of Learning Environments 179
9.10.1 LT& D Integration
9.10.2 Competence Systems 180
9.10.3 Line Responsibility 180
9.10.4 Mentoring 181
9.11 The Work Part of Learning Environments 181
9.11.1 Training on the Job 181
9.11.2 Work Development 182
9.11.3 Collaborative Work 183
9.12 Communicative Parts of Learning Environments 183
9.12.1 Networking 184
9.12.2 ICT-Based Learning/Training 184
9.13 Access to Learning Opportunities 185
9.14 Critical Parts of Learning Environments 186
References 189
Theme Four Competence in the Workplace: A Focus on University and Global Contexts 190
Chapter 10 191
Intercultural Knowledge Management: A Competency Model for the Repatriation of Expatriates in the Asia–Pacific 191
10.1 Introduction 191
10.2 The Lack of Research on Repatriation 192
10.3 Repatriation Challenges: Individual Level 193
10.4 Repatriation Challenges: Organisational Level 195
10.4.1 Boundaryless Careers 195
10.5 Addressing the Challenges 196
10.5.1 Intercultural Knowledge Management and Expatriates 196
10.6 Challenges for Knowledge Management 197
10.7 Knowledge Management and Repatriation Competency Transfer 198
10.7.1 Competency Based Learning Models for Repatriation in Global Workplaces 199
10.8 Understanding and Learning about Repatriation and Its Challenges 201
10.9 Further Research to Address Repatriation Challenges in Global Workplaces 202
References 203
Chapter 11 204
Local Needs, Global Contexts: Innovation and Excellence in Teaching in the Modern University 204
11.1 Introduction 204
11.2 Competencies and Graduate Attributes 206
11.3 Learner-Led Innovation 207
11.4 Case Study: The Mekong eSIM 209
11.5 Teacher-Led Innovation 210
11.6 Case Study: Transition Support 212
11.7 Emerging Trends 213
References 215
Chapter 12 217
Demands for Intercultural Communicative Competence in Working Life 217
12.1 Introduction 217
12.2 Estonia in the Transitional Period 218
12.3 Internationalization 221
12.4 European and Swedish Co-Operation in the Transformation Period 222
12.5 Intercultural Communicative Competence 227
12.6 Some Obstacles in Intercultural Communication 230
References 233
Conclusion 235
13.1 On Being Creatively Competent in Our Knowledge-Based Society 235
13.1.1 On the Cultural Meaning of Work, Labour, and Competence 236
13.1.2 On the Way Forward! 239
Author Index 240
Subject Index 245