Management Competencies of the 21st Century Corporation

Organisations today are constantly exposed to change and quick adaptation is pivotal to their survival. This explains the demand for management theories and models for organisational behaviours in order to respond adequately to these challenges. Peter Senge, with his seminal book “The Fifth Discipline” has delivered an in depth model for organisational learning. In parallel with developments in organisational learning theory, there has been the development of the notion of competencies. Three variants on the theme of “competencies” were considered. These show that to foster organisational learning, traditional competency based training frameworks are not suitable. The recognition is essential that underlying or soft competencies and not simply technical competencies are highly influential for organisational learning and therefore performance. This book proposes a set of five “Desirable Phenomena” for organisations and their learning. In the last chapter 14 key competencies needed in organisations to support the “desirable phenomena” are discussed. A literature discussion highlights the significance and the role of the competencies.