Use the Competencies window to define competencies.

   To define a competency:

1. Select New in the Find Competencies window.

2. Select either Local or Global in the Scope region.

   • A local competency is visible only within the current business group, and the competency key flexfield for the business group defines the competency name structure.

   • A global competency is visible to all business groups in your enterprise. You can select Global only if your system administrator has set the HR: Cross Business Group and HR: Global Competency Flex Structure user profile options to Yes. The global competency key flexfield defines the competency name structure.

   Note: After saving a competency, you cannot change its scope.

   If you change your scope selection before saving the competency, Oracle HRMS deletes any information that you have entered in the Name, Rating Scale, and Primary Evaluation Method fields.

3. Click in the Name field, and complete the fields in the Competence Flexfield window.

4. Enter a description for the competency.

5. If you use Oracle Projects, enter a name or code in the Alias field to identify the competency. Otherwise, leave the field blank.

6. If you are defining a unit standard competency, select Unit Standard in the Cluster field.

   Note: After saving a competency, you cannot change its cluster value from Unit Standard to any other value.

Entering Rating or Proficiency Information

7. On the Valid Date and Proficiency tab, enter the dates between which the competency is valid. You must enter a start date, but you can leave the end date blank.

8. You can either select a general rating scale or define proficiency levels specific to this competency.

   Note: This step applies primarily to competencies that are not unit standard competencies. Although you can select a rating scale or specify proficiency levels for a unit standard competency, you must also complete the tasks described in Entering Outcomes and Assessment Criteria.

   To select a rating scale:

   1. Select the Scale option.

   2. If you have defined a default proficiency rating scale for this type of competency (local or global), its name appears automatically in the Rating Scale field. Otherwise, select a rating scale.

   3. To view the selected rating scale, click Levels.

   To specify proficiency levels:

   1. Select the Levels option.

   2. Click Levels to open the Levels window.

   3. Define the first proficiency level by assigning a level number (for example, 0), a name (for example, Beginner), and a behavioral indicator (for example, the worker has no experience of inventory management and cannot perform basic tasks without supervision). Repeat this step for other proficiency levels.

Entering Competency Evaluation Details

9. Select the main method of evaluating the competency (for example, Written Examination or Peer Assessment).

10. To specify when the competency must be reassessed, enter a number in the Renewal Period field and select a unit. For example, enter 5 in the Renewal Period field and select Year if you assess the competency every 5 years.

11. Select Certification Required if you need a certificate to confirm possession of the competency. For example, you may need a driver's license to prove competency to drive.

    If you select Certification Required, enter the certification method and date whenever you include this competency in a worker's competency profile.

12. Save your work.

    The rest of this topic applies only if you are defining a unit standard competency.

Entering Qualifications Framework Details

13. Click the Unit Standard Qualifications Framework Details tab.

14. In the Unit Standard ID field, enter the Qualifications Framework code for the competency.

15. Select the main and subsidiary fields of learning to which the competency belongs.

    The main field of learning identifies the industry or sector to which the competency belongs (for example, Management Studies or Nursing).

    The subsidiary field identifies the subject area within the field of learning to which the competency belongs (for example, Marketing or Neonatal Care).

16. Select the level type and level.

    Qualifications Framework levels indicate the extent to which knowledge and skills have been advanced by learning. For example, a competency could be at Level 6 on a scale ranging from Level 1 through Level 8.

    The level type identifies the category to which the Qualifications Framework level belongs (for example, NQF, NVQ, or HND).

17. Select the credit type and enter the number of credits this competency earns.

    The credit type identifies the unit of measure for unit standard credits. For example, the credit type could be notional hours of work or study required to achieve a unit standard competency.

18. Select the codes that identify the provider of the unit standard competency and the provider's Quality Assurance (QA) organization.

Entering Qualifications Information

19. Click Qualifications to open the Competency Qualifications window.

20. In the Qualification Links region, select the name of a qualification to which this unit standard competency contributes.

    The identifier of the selected qualification appears automatically.

21. Select the unit standard type. This value specifies the relevance of the unit standard competency to the qualification (for example, core or optional).

22. Repeat Steps 20 and 21 for additional qualifications. (A single unit standard competency can contribute to more than one qualification.)

23. Save your work.

Entering Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

24. Click Outcomes to open the Outcomes and Assessment Criteria window.

25. Enter the number and name of a behavior or performance standard (for example, "Audience response above average" for a presentation skills competency).

26. Enter the dates between which the outcome is valid. You must enter a start date, but you can leave the end date blank.

27. In the Assessment Criteria field, define how to assess the outcome (for example, the audience rating for a minimum of three presentations is 60% or higher). This information must help an assessor decide whether an outcome has been achieved.

28. Repeat Steps 25 through 27 for additional outcomes.

29. Save your work.