Competency-Based Training Basics

William J. Rothwell, Ph.D., SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CPLP Fellow, is president of Rothwell and Associates, Inc., a full-service consulting company that specializes in succession planning. He is also a professor of learning and performance in the Workforce Education and Development program, Department of Learning and Performance Systems, at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park campus. In that capacity, he heads up a top-ranked graduate program in learning and performance and is the program coordinator for the fully online Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change. He has authored, co-authored, edited, or co-edited 300 books, book chapters, and articles—including 64 books. Before arriving at Penn State in 1993, he had 20 years of work experience as a training director in government and in business. As a consultant, he has worked with over 50 multinational corporations--including Motorola, General Motors, Ford, and many others. In 2004, he earned the Graduate Faculty Teaching Award at Pennsylvania State University, a single award given to the best graduate faculty member on the 23 campuses of the Penn State system. His train-the-trainers programs have won global awards.

Jim M. Graber is an organizational psychologist with over 30 years of experience in private and public sector organizations, including many Fortune 500 firms. As president of Business Decisions, his current areas of expertise include competency modeling, career development, performance management, and employee assessment and certification. Graber has taught at the graduate and undergraduate level for three universities, frequently presents at conferences, and has contributed to countless professional journals and books. A born innovator, he spearheaded the development of Focus Software, a comprehensive talent and performance management solution used worldwide. Graber holds a PhD in psychology from Claremont Graduate University and resides in the Chicago area.