Blog
Skills intelligence for the people who build workforce strategy.
Your First Competency Framework in 30 Days: A Week-by-Week Plan
Every skills initiative starts with the same question: what skills actually matter here? Not the generic list from an HRIS vendor. The specific, measurable capabilities that define what good looks like in your organization, and what separates "meeting expectations" from "ready for the next level." The answer lives in a competency framework. The definition, the four build methods, and a worked example are in Competency Framework: How to Build One. This article is the other half: the project plan
Sep 22 · 9 min
How to Choose Competency Management Software (Buyer's Guide)
Most competency management systems are bought after an audit finding, not before one. The auditor asks to see evidence that the person who ran a critical procedure last Tuesday was competent against the current revision of that procedure. The training manager produces a completion record from the LMS, dated two years ago, against a revision that has since changed twice. The finding is written. The corrective action says "implement a competency management process." The search for software begins
Sep 15 · 9 min
How to Run Competency Assessments That Produce Data You Can Trust
The assessment is where competency frameworks meet reality. It's the moment you stop talking about what skills people should have and start measuring what they actually do have. And it's the step most organizations either skip or execute so poorly that the data is useless. A competency assessment measures an individual's demonstrated capability in specific skills against a defined proficiency scale. Not their potential. Not their training history. What they can do right now, at what level, vali
Apr 20 · 4 min
Competency Management: From Frameworks to Measurable Growth
The competency management market reached $103 billion in 2023 and is projected to hit $154 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. That kind of growth suggests organizations are investing heavily in defining and developing workforce capabilities. But spending doesn't equal adoption. Most competency frameworks end up as beautifully formatted documents that nobody uses after the first quarter. Competency management is the practice of defining, assessing, and developing the skills and be
Dec 4 · 4 min
Who Knows What? How to Find (and Prove) Expertise Inside Your Company
Finding experts fast is critical for workforce planning, client success, and compliance. Learn how an internal expert finder—using skill flags, a skills matrix, and competency mapping—helps you prove employee competence with audit-ready evidence.
Sep 11 · 5 min
The New SkillsDB: Making Learning Culture Universal
Exciting new SkillsDB marketing website launch, along with a refreshed brand.
Jun 2 · 4 min
Competency Framework: How to Build One (Models, Methods, and Examples)
Competency models vary depending on their purpose. This article will go through four and explain which ones are the most effective.
Oct 9 · 8 min
Employee Development Plan: Templates, Examples, and How to Build a Development Path
A competency development plan enhances workforce skills, reduces frustration in employees and strengthens the teams for higher performance. Learn more in this article.
Sep 26 · 8 min
Competency Based Assessments: A Critical Tool for Success
Employees aren't born job-ready. Competency based assessments are the right tool for discovering and developing skills further.
Aug 20 · 4 min
How to Implement a Competency-Based Training Program in 5 Phases
Read this article to understand best practices for implementing a competency-based training program.
Jun 11 · 5 min
Skills vs. Competencies vs. Proficiency: The Difference, With Examples
Skills are a good place to start but the real focus has to be on competency development. Although they sound similar, they are very different.
May 24 · 8 min
What Are Competencies? Definition, Types, and Examples
A competency definition works as the foundation for skill requirements to specify the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for success at work.
Mar 19 · 8 min