Human Resources
Basic Skills (E)
What are the Basic Skills? What is the difference between Basic and Technical Skills?
Posted: May 2009
Every position within organization requires a certain skills and competencies. Skills are necessary prerequisite for a professional conduction of work tasks. Without proper skills the outcome of some working activity is very easy to be a failure. Therefore for every position there should be a skills requirement established, in order to have a proper basis for selection of employees, skills assessment and development of skills.
There is a major division of skills in two areas: Core and Technical Skills. The Core Skills are represent employee basic asset. Core skills requirement is the same among the different business function. Though, stress can be given to different Core Skills, depending of the position within function.
Technical skills are specific for each business function and position within company. For example, Accounts Receivables Clerk within Finance Department and Forklift Operator within Warehouse have totally different requirement for Technical Skills. Though, they can share some Core Skills.
The Basic Skills are grouped in several areas.
The Ability to Lead is the area composed of Change Management, Coaching and People Development and Strategic thinking. These skills are requirement for managerial positions.
The Ability to Analyze is the area have two segments: Analysis and Information Gathering and Opportunity Assessment. Besides managers, these skills are requirement of other positions, e.g. analysts in Finance, Sales or Supply Chain.
The Ability to Plan is based on Planning and Organization and Contingency Planning. These Core Skills are very important for a variety of positions of different grades, since everybody has responsibility to plan his own activities, while managers plan some of their subordinate's activities too.
The Ability to Execute has three main parts: Decision Making, Judgment and Work Management. Again, these skills are requirement of most of the position, because everybody should be able to make decisions and execute activities on their level of requirement of position.
Ability to Measure is the area composed of Managing Performance and Business and Assets Management. These skills are primarily related to managerial position, but also to other executive positions.
The Ability to Create Alliances is based on Influencing, Communication and Teamwork. These skills are very important for every position within organization, since success of the organization depends upon a successful networking.
