Competence, Competency, and Competencies: A Misunderstanding in Theory and Practice for Future Reference

Abstract

The term competence has been widely applied in the field of human resource and management. This term is also used interchangeably with other terminologies, including competency and competencies. Despite their ubiquitous usage in scientific literature, it remains unclear whether all these terminologies pose the same meaning or should be differentiated in theory and practice. Therefore, an enhanced understanding of these terms is contingent upon a firm grasp of their history and importance. This paper consists of three parts: (1) the definition of terms related to competence, competency, and competencies; (2) the categories of competencies; and (3) a proposed diagram to differentiate between these terms. Several academic journals have served as references in obtaining a clear understanding of the differences between the terms competence, competency, and competencies.