8.1.2 Profiling skills gaps using human capital approach
Human capital profiling as it is currently undertaken tends to focus on skills gaps for performing existing jobs within the organisation. Skills-based needs analyses, which identify the functions expected of staff in particular positions, are most successful where there are defined process outcomes. Skills-based profiling is of limited utility in identifying the knowledge components of jobs. It reflects a mechanistic approach to organisational design, and tends to lock in various forms of central authority and control.
The testing of knowledge or non-skills components of a job has been limited to benchmarking general traits against those of existing 'proficient' staff rather than assessing an individual's capability or capacity to perform. Traits are sometimes measured to determine whether an individual is behaviourally compatible with a role; these are retrospective judgments based on traits that have been seen to relate to performance.
Educational programs have contributed most to identifying and delivering the knowledge components of jobs, at least in management education. Here, universities have provided functional job-related vocational education through postgraduate study.