What is Basic Competencies ?
‘Basic Competencies’ or ‘Core competencies’ are the set of skills or capabilities that sets a company or an individual apart from the competition.
The concept was introduced in 1990 by authors C.K. Prahalad and Gary Hamel in the article, ‘The Core Competence of the Corporation’. According to the article, a core competency must satisfy the following three conditions:
- They should be beneficial to the customers
- They should not be easy for the competitors to emulate
- They can be leveraged to multiple products and markets
Companies proactively lookout for specific basic competencies in individuals while recruiting for specific roles. Hence, it would be wise for a candidate to understand the required competencies and cross-examine the same with his or her core competencies before applying for a position.
