This study examines the extent to which there are competencies which are
generic to professions in Australia. The seven professions of accountancy,
architecture, human resource management, marketing, social work, and
teaching from around Australia were surveyed using an 80-item question
naire. The questionnaire was developed by reviewing the literature on profes
sional competencies; workshopping with representatives of the professional
groups with nominal group technique and small group discussion; and using
a preliminary study of individuals in four professional groups. A factor
analysis, accounting for 51.9 percent of the total variance, extracted nine
factors: Problem-solving, Others Orientation, Professional Involvement, Inter
nal Frame of Reference, Emotional Competence, Influencing, Organizational
Knowledge, Proactivity, and Client Orientation. This study discusses the impli
cations of these results for the education of professionals, for human resource
managers involved in the selection, training and development of professionals,
and for the transition of professionals to managers. These issues are of increas
ing importance to human resource managers in their role as developers of
organizational capability.
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