An examination of the adoption of competency-based management in Malaysian academic libraries

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the adoption of competency-based management (CBM) in Malaysian academic libraries. The Malaysian Remuneration System (MRS), which was introduced in November 2002, focuses on staff competencies as one of the core components in human resource management in the Malaysian public service. This study was aimed at understanding how Malaysian academic libraries developed their competency profile, the role of library managers involved, the uses made by the libraries of these profiles, and the barriers faced by, and enablers employed by, the libraries in this process. Seventeen respondents from four Malaysian academic libraries were interviewed in the study. The data were analysed using descriptive and analytical methods. The study found that Malaysian academic libraries used multiple methods to identify the competencies required by their staff, and established and successfully used their own methods to develop their competency profiles. This study also found that library managers were key players in the CBM and that the use of competency profiling in human resource management is still in its early stages. The important barriers impeding the process were: lack of project planning; lack of knowledge; limited budgets and resources; difficulties in identifying competencies and in determining competency levels; difficulties in developing generic competencies and identifying of standards and levels of competence between different levels of staff. Among important factors enabling the process were: use of internal strengths and resources; personal initiative; development of in-house programs to understand CBM; teamwork; total quality management (TQM) activities; and library co-operation.