What is a Competency? The broad concept of competency is related to realistic work practices, expressed as an outcome, and understandable to all people in the workplace. It is important that the meaning of the standards be interpreted and understood in the same way by different users, and in different situations. Competency comprises the specification of knowledge areas and skills relevant to an industry, and the application of that knowledge and skills to the standard of performance required in the workplace. The Australian National Training Authority's definition of competency encompasses several features: - "The concept of competency focuses on what is expected of an employee in the workplace rather than the learning process, and embodies the ability to transfer and apply skills and knowledge to new situations and environments". Units of competency should encompass all four components of competency, which are: Task skills - the requirement to perform individual tasks Task management skills - the requirement to manage a number of different tasks within the job; Contingency Management skills -the requirement to respond to irregularities and breakdowns in routine; and Job/role environment skills - the requirement to deal with the responsibilities and expectations of the work environment including working with others.