UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE - Wind Energy Network

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Renewables Development
Programme Workshop 2
Competence
For me
the only
meaning of
competence
is the
competence
of an
organisation
Some people are happy to use the term
in relation to an individual. I think that this
can only be valid if one is talking about
an individual performer. And even then,
when you consider the classic individual
performers, it is difficult to conclude that
they are not in fact part of a larger team.
A golfer has his caddy, a boxer has his
trainer and his seconds, a violin soloist has
his conductor, and an artist has his muse.
There are very few people who are truly
alone. 99% of people who have to deliver
a result are part of a team, an organisation.
When it comes to delivering a result it is the
competence of the organisation that has to
stand the test, to prevail and to succeed.
The constituent parts of organisational
competence are...
• Expertise – the skill, craft or technical
virtuosity of the individual
• Equipment – the tools or technical
support instruments used by the
individual and
• Environment – the workplace aspects
in which the individual has to perform
Organisational competence is like a
three legged stool. If any one of the
legs is shorter than the others, then the
performance of the stool is second rate.
If the short leg is a lot shorter than the
others then the performance of the stool is
rubbish … or firewood.
In the context of the ultimate team
scenario American football, the concept
of organisational competence can be
understood in human terms more clearly.
To make a successful play the team
has to move as one. Each individual
must execute their specific task in
synchronisation with his team members
to create the successful
score, or the successful
defence.
How do we describe
the competence of the
team in terms of the three
constituents
Organisational competence
First of all let’s look at the constituent parts
of organisational competence and see
how that differs from the more popular
reference to personal competence. When
I have heard people talk about personal
competence I always understand them to
mean skill, or expertise. That is good, as
far as it goes but it doesn’t go far enough
when trying to improve the performance
of a team or organisation. An organisation
in our world is no more than a commercial
team, so I shall use those two terms as
interchangeable.
Expertise
The linemen, who play
up front, operate as a
team within a team. Their
expertise as individuals is
the application of explosive
power with upper body
strength and swift lateral
movement with fast feet,
whilst staying in complete
balance in the face of a 23
stone opponent or two.
To develop this expertise, players have
to practice specific drills until it becomes
second nature to apply them in the game
situation.
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