Course Description

How to Build Competencies with the DACUM Approach


A comprehensive course for human resources professionals, consultants, and training professionals to create customized competency profiles for any role

Why should you take this course?


1. You will develop the skills you need to develop competency profiles on your own.

The course is set up to promote your success. It is self-paced and you have a full eight weeks to complete it. Participants who complete the entire course will be able to develop competency profiles within their own professional practices for any role. 

2. You will learn how to develop competency profiles that are specific to a job or function.

Why does specificity matter? If you want to use competency profiles to develop training, design competency assessments, or conduct skills gap analysis, they must be specific to a job or function. Competency samples, generic competencies, core competencies, and competency dictionaries will not give you the foundation you need to build effective competency tools.


3. The instructor is a competency expert.

Bernadette Allen, founder and President of The Competency Group, developed and delivers the course. The course is drawn from her 20-plus years of experience developing hundreds of competency profiles for many roles across many sectors.

4. You will learn the DACUM method - a well-proven, fast and efficient method.

Organizations around the world have embraced DACUM to develop complete competency profiles in just two days. The Competency Group approach is based on tried and true methods that have been proven to work over many years across many sectors and industries.

The course includes:


  • 15 chapters organized to replicate the competency profile process
  • coaching and support via our course exclusive Facebook Group
  • presentations
  • worksheets
  • checklists
  • interviews from the field with The Competency Group members who share their experiences
  • quizzes
  • presentation handouts
  • resources
  • skill-building assignment

Testimonial

"I am pleased to recommend this course. Competency Profiling is an important activity of HR and has many uses. The process of competency profiling using a DACUM chart is far better than having a generic job description. I am regularly searching for online courses through Google search that are relevant to HR. I have not seen any organization or institute offering the same course through online. I thank you again for your great support during the course and hope to come back for more online courses in HR in future.”

Atif Aziz, Human Resources Consultant

August, 2016

Lead Instructor

Bernadette Allen

Bernadette Allen is the founder and President of The Competency Group Inc. and is a leader in the application of competency-based human resources development. She has worked with hundreds of clients since the company began in 1997. Her extensive experience includes developing competency profiles, developing occupational standards, developing competency based training, designing competency assessment, conducting skills gap analysis, training evaluation and designing organization-wide training strategy. Bernadette holds a Masters of Adult Education from St Francis Xavier University and certification in competency analysis and competency-based training from several Canadian and American organizations. Testimonials “I have worked and collaborated with Bernadette Allen for many years on a wide-range of projects all having a competency-based philosophy at the core. Bernadette’s work has been generalized over various private and public sectors ranging in focus from direct competency analysis for education and curriculum development to the identification of work functions and tasks through competency analysis to support the human resource continuum. Bernadette is a highly experienced and qualified professional consultant who has a lot to offer in terms of knowledge and experience in all things competency-based. Over our many years of collaboration I have developed a deep respect for her ability to practically apply the identification and use of competencies for solving a broad range of operational and human resources challenges. She created, grew and has maintained a successful consulting firm that has done business in Canada and the US, and has developed a great reputation as an industry expert in adult education who understands the value of implementing and promoting skills based learning in workplaces.” Susan Howard MSc HRM, CHRP and Management Consultant, Bermuda

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Chapter 1. Introduction

  • 2

    Chapter 2. What are Competency Profiles, Their Uses and Benefits?

    • 2.1 Introduction to Chapter 2

    • 2.2 What is a Competency Profile? Presentation

    • 2.3 Sample Competency Profile for Operations Manager

    • 2.4 Sample Sub-Skills, Knowledge and Abilities for HR Manager

    • 2.5 Examples of Occupational Standards Developed by The Competency Group

    • 2.6 Competency Profile Uses and Benefits Presentation

    • 2.7 Experience from the Field

    • 2.8 Chapter 2 Worksheet

    • 2.9 Chapter 2 Presentation Slides
  • 3

    Chapter 4. Preparing to Develop a Competency Profile

    • 4.2 Before You Start Identify the Goal Focus & Stakeholders

    • 4.4 Chapter 4 Worksheet

    • 4.1 Introduction to Chapter 4

    • 4.3 Experience from the Field

    • 4.5 Chapter 4 Presentation Slides
  • 4

    Chapter 3. Overview of the Competency Profile Development Process

    • 3.1 Introduction to Chapter 3

    • 3.3 Chapter 3 Presentation Slides

    • 3.2 Overview of the Competency Profile Development Process Presentation
  • 5

    Chapter 5. Identify the Scope of the Competency Profile

    • 5.1 Introduction to Chapter 5

    • 5.2 Define the Scope of the Occupation, Job or Function Presentation

    • 5.3 Example Scope Statements

    • 5.4 Experience from the Field

    • 5.5 Chapter 5 Worksheet

    • 5.6 Chapter 5 Presentation Slides
  • 6

    Chapter 6. Select the Competency Profile Committee

    • 6.2 Select the Competency Profile Committee Presentation

    • 6.1 Introduction to Chapter 6

    • 6.3 Experience from the Field

    • 7.1 Introduction to Chapter 7

    • 6.4 Chapter 6 Checklist

    • 6.5 Chapter 6 Presentation Slides
  • 7

    Chapter 7. Room Set-Up: Setting the Stage for a Productive Competency Profile Workshop

    • 7.2 Setting Up the Competency Profile Workshop Room Presentation

    • 7.3 Competency Profile Workshop Room Layout Diagram

    • 7.4 Chapter 7 Checklist

    • 7.5 Chapter 7 Presentation Slides
  • 8

    Chapter 8. Introduce the Competency Profile Process to Workshop Participants

    • 8.1 Introduction to Chapter 8

    • 8.2 Introduce the Competency Profile Process to Workshop Participants

    • 8.3 Experience from the Field

    • 8.4 Chapter 8 Worksheet

    • 8.5 Chapter 8 Presentation Slides
  • 9

    Chapter 9. Brainstorm the Job

    • 9.1 Introduction to Chapter 9

    • 9.2 Brainstorm the Job Presentation

    • 9.3 Chapter 9 Checklist

    • 9.4 Chapter 9 Presentation Slides
  • 10

    Chapter 10. Develop the Major Categories

    • 10.1 Introduction to Chapter 10

    • 10.2 Develop the Major Categories Presentation

    • 10.3 Experience from the Field

    • 10.4 Quiz: Evaluate the Major Categories

    • 10.5 Chapter 10 Checklist

    • 10.6 Chapter 10 Presentation Slides
  • 11

    Chapter 11. Identify the Skills

    • 11.1 Introduction to Chapter 11

    • 11.2 What is a Skill Presentation

    • 11.3 Sample Skills Compared to Skill Criteria Handout

    • 11.4 identify the Skills with the Committee Presentation

    • 11.5 Experience from the Field

    • 11.6 Evaluating Skill Statements Quiz

    • 11.7 Chapter 11 Worksheet

    • 11.8 Chapter 11 Presentation Slides

    • Chapter 11 Questions and Comments
  • 12

    Chapter 12. Sequence and Review the Competency Profile

    • 12.1 Introduction to Chapter 12

    • 12.2 Sequence and Review the Competency Profile Presentation

    • 12.3 Experience from the Field

    • 12.4 Chapter 12 Checklist

    • 12.5 Chapter 12 Presentation Slides
  • 13

    Chapter 13. Set Performance Standards and Descriptive Rating Scales

    • 13.1 Introduction to Chapter 13

    • 13.2 Set Performance Standards and Rating Scales Presentation

    • 13.3 Experience from the Field

    • 13.4 Chapter 13 Checklist

    • 13.5 Chapter 13 Presentation Slides
  • 14

    Chapter 14. Identify Sub-Skills, Supporting Knowledge and Abilities

    • 14.2 Identify Subskills Supporting Knowledge & Abilities Presentation

    • 14.1 Introduction to Chapter 14

    • 14.3 Experience from the Field

    • 14.5 Chapter 14 Presentation Slides

    • 14.4 Chapter 4 Worksheet
  • 15

    Chapter 15. Validate the Competency Profile

    • 15.2 Validate the Competency Profile Presentation

    • 15.1 Introduction to Chapter 15

    • 15. 3 Experience from the Field

    • 15.4 Chapter 15 Worksheet

    • 15.5 Chapter 5 Presentation Slides

    • 15.6 Course Evaluation