What are Core Competencies?
The need for this initiative arose from the GEAPS' International Board?s ongoing review and development of GEAPS' strategic plan. The ongoing focus of that review is GEAPS vision:... "being THE grain industry operations knowledge resource." To that end, the key question expected to be answered by this initiative is: WHAT "industry operations knowledge" is relevant and essential.
As part of the initiative, a Core Competencies Task Force was established 1/2002 to identify and define the expected "core competencies" of the grain handling operations management profession--GEAPS' primary member base--within the context of the evolving global grain industry.
The report of this task force was the focus topic for the GEAPS Leadership 2002 Forum. The purpose of that Forum was to assess GEAPS competency as a knowledge resource relative to the core competencies of grain handling and storage operations--'knowledge" being one of the key components of individual competency.
A Core Competency:
- Is a bundle of skills and technologies rather than a single discrete skill or technology
- Enables a company to provide a particular benefit to customers
- Is an aptitude; capability
- Is a source of competitive advantage
- Is a range of products or services--NOT a specific product or service
- Makes a disproportionate contribution to customer perceived value
- Is NOT an asset nor just another way to describe vertical integration
The task force agreed on these 7 suggested aggregated core competencies [not ranked].
The core competencies of grain operations define the knowledge areas and skill sets that focus on a basic understanding and practical application of:
1. GRAIN QUALITY MANAGEMENT involving quality definition, determination, preservation and assurance;
2. GRAIN HANDLING EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT involving equipment types, specifications, installation, performance, operation, diagnostics, maintenance, and repair;
3. HANDLING SYSTEMS & OPERATIONS TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT involving integrated equipment for materials handling, automation, sensors, controls, computers, system analysis, and process optimization;
4. FACILITY OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT involving project analysis, planning, and execution, construction management, grain receiving, handling and shipping management, housekeeping, operational efficiency, energy use, transportation and logistics;
5. AGRI-BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT & MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
involving economics, finances, purchasing, origination, marketing, customer and community relations, and ethics;
6. HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT involving employee recruitment and retention, supervision, teamwork, performance evaluation, written and oral communication, and professional development; and
7. PROPERTY AND CASUALTY RISK MANAGEMENT involving risk analysis, evaluation, abatement and control, emergency preparedness and response, regulatory compliance, security, and insurance.
Details of the Core Competencies (PDF)
As presented at the 2002 Leadership Forum