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competency-management.html
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<p><a href="/" title="Robert Sidor">-Robert Sidor-</a> <a href="about-me.html" title="about me" class="active">-about me-</a></p>
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<h2>Competency Management from the IT World Perspective</h2>
<p>In the age of digital transformation, where technology has become an integral part of most economic sectors, competency management in the IT industry has taken on paramount importance. The rapid pace of technological change and the continual pursuit of innovation mean that today's necessary skills might become obsolete tomorrow. So, how can one effectively manage competencies in the IT environment? I'd like to share my personal challenges, practices, as well as vision and plan related to managing competencies in the tech industry.</p>
<h4>What is competency management and why should we care?</h4>
<p>Competency management is a strategic process of identifying, developing, and monitoring the skills needed to achieve business objectives. Sounds simple, right? Believe me, it's not. In the IT sector, where technologies evolve rapidly and their varieties seem virtually endless, understanding which skills are essential now and predicting future requirements is critical. Only then can organizations remain competitive and deliver innovative solutions.
The tech sector is incredibly dynamic, with the pace of change continually accelerating. Companies that do not focus on competency management can quickly fall behind, losing customers to more innovative competitors. Proper competency management ensures that the team is prepared for both present and future challenges.</p>
<h4>Okay, what challenges does this pose for the IT world?</h4>
<p>Technology waits for no one. Every year brings new trends, tools, and platforms with the potential to reshape the industry (don’t worry, no tedious discourse on AI and its world-changing potential here). For IT companies, staying updated, adapting, and investing in the right technologies while ensuring continuous team skill development is challenging. New programming languages and tools emerge almost daily. For developers, this presents not just a challenge but an opportunity to hone new skills. However, companies must distinguish which of these tools will stand the test of time to avoid investing in fleeting trends.</p>
<p>The days of being an expert in just one area are gone. Today's IT professionals need a broad technical skill set combined with business, communication, and analytical knowledge. Developing such a comprehensive range of skills is vital for success in the complex IT environment. I recently came across a fascinating term framed as one of a company's core values -> "<i>we are technology agnostic; we use what we believe is the best technology for the given technical challenge.</i>" I must admit, it's a modern, catchy, yet risky approach if left unchecked (but that’s a topic for another article).</p>
<h4>How to tackle the subject and do it right?</h4>
<p>Before diving deeply into change, let's start by assessing what we have. Inventory is the foundation of any sound change and development plan. Look at your team, determine their skills, and do it as thoroughly as possible. Have you ever asked your Java developer if he's interested in other technologies or programming languages, and if so, why he chose them? Trust me, it’s the quickest route to initial successes; you'll be surprised how easily you can expand skill sets to cater to your company's portfolio just by asking the right questions.</p>
<p>The next step - feedback from the team. You're not alone in this. Don’t shoulder the responsibility of single handedly crafting a skill development plan – not every manager/decision-maker has the extensive experience to cover all areas. Emphasize regular conversations with employees and analyze their training needs to quickly identify skill gaps and take appropriate action.</p>
<p>Use the right methods and tools for tracking and analyzing competencies. Modern resource management software allows managers to monitor skills almost in real-time, enabling swift responses to any gaps and adjusting training strategies accordingly.</p>
<p>Speaking of trainings... For many, it’s essential to maintain skill relevancy. In the IT world, where knowledge quickly becomes outdated, regular courses and certifications are key to ensuring the team stays updated with the latest trends and technologies – but that's not all. Training often provides dry knowledge that, without practical application, merely becomes a diploma in a PDF or a badge shared on LinkedIn. Ensure your employees' developmental needs align with your business strategy and direction and meet your clients’ current (and ideally future) expectations – everyone benefits.</p>
<p>Last but not least, focus on developing soft skills and adaptability – especially for technical personnel for whom it’s rarely a primary need. In an era of remote teams and global competition, soft skills like communication and teamwork are just as crucial as technical ones. Furthermore, the ability to swiftly adapt to change is indispensable in the dynamic IT environment.</p>
<h4>The Future of IT Competency Management</h4>
<p>Artificial intelligence and the associated large data set analysis, with its many potential scenarios and cases, can certainly revolutionize competency management. Algorithms could predict which skills will be vital in the future, helping companies preemptively adapt. But in my view, not just yet. I'd strongly recommend focusing on analyzing market needs around your current primary competencies and technological trends.</p>
<p>Automation and technological advancements will lead to changing roles in IT. Over time, employees will increasingly focus on strategy and innovation, while routine tasks will be increasingly automated. This only underscores the importance of continuous skill development and learning.</p>
<p>In the tech world, where constant change is the only constant (my favorite saying), effective competency management becomes not just a priority but the key to the success of any organization. In the IT sector, where novelties emerge almost daily, adaptability, continuous learning, and skill development are essential. The future belongs to those organizations and specialists who understand the value of perpetual improvement and are ready to adapt to the ever-changing market requirements.</p>
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<p><i>Aug, 2023</i></p>
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<h2>_blog posts</h2>
<a href="competency-management.html" title="" class="smaller active">- Competency Management</a>
<a href="devops-is-more-than-you-think.html" title="" class="smaller active">- DevOps is more than you think</a>
<a href="dora.html" title="" class="smaller active">- About the team not the metrics (DORA)</a>
<a href="space.html" title="" class="smaller active">- About the team not the metrics (SPACE)</a>
<a href="inner-source.html" title="" class="smaller active">- Inner Source</a>
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