Keywords
Professional competencies
Zenger and Folkman model
Human Resources Management
Job performance
How to Cite
Downloads
Metrics
Abstract
Background: Professional competencies have become a key aspect of Human Resources Management in the new Public Administration paradigm. One of the basic elements of the new Public Administration in Spain is professional skills, understood as the ability of a worker to perform the tasks inherent to a specific job. This paper examines the capacity of the variables Personality, Engagement, Job Characteristics, Job Demands, and Effort–Reward Imbalance to predict Professional Competencies (Professional Responsibility, Professional Risks, and Professional Growth/Development). Method: A multi-occupational sample of 502 employees from the General Body of the Public Administration of Spain (men: 35.1%; women: 64.9%) was obtained through non-probabilistic sampling, and the data collected were processed with the SPSS 26.0 program. Pearson's correlations were calculated to generate the correlation matrix between the predictor variables and the criterion variables. Subsequently, a multiple regression model was applied to test the effects of the predictor variables on the criterion variables for professional skills. Results: Significant correlations were found with Professional Responsibility, Professional Threats and Risks, and Professional Growth and Development, along with several contrast variables and external correlates. The results confirm a significant positive predictive relationship between Professional Competencies and various predictor variables. Conclusions: The findings of this study provide valuable insights for research on the factors that promote professional competencies in Public Administration. The variable Dedication is the best predictor of the Professional Responsibility and Professional Growth and Development variables, while the variable Control is the best predictor of Professional Threats and Risks. These results have direct implications for Human Resources Management in Public Administration.
References
Acheampong, N. A. A. (2021). Reward preferences of the youngest generation: Attracting, recruiting, and retaining Generation Z into public sector organizations. Compensation & Benefits Review, 53(2), 75–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886368720954803
Alzghoul, A., Elrehail, H., Emeagwali, O. L., & AlShboul, M. K. (2018). Knowledge management, workplace climate, creativity and performance: The role of authentic leadership. Journal of Workplace Learning, 30(8), 592–612. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-12-2017-0111
Andreassen, C. S., Hetland, J., & Pallesen, S. (2010). The relationship between “workaholism”, basic needs satisfaction at work and personality. European Journal of Personality, 24(1), 3–17. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.737
Bakker, A. B., Hakanen, J. J., Demerouti, E., & Xanthopoulou, D. (2007). Job resources boost work engagement, particularly when job demands are high. Journal of Educational Psychology, 99(2), 274–284. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.99.2.274
Bozionelos, N. (2004). The big five of personality and work involvement. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 19(1), 69–81. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940410520664
Brunas-Wagstaff, J., Bergquist, A., & Wagstaff, G. F. (1994). Cognitive correlates of functional and dysfunctional impulsivity. Personality and Individual Differences, 17(2), 289–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(94)90033-7
Camilleri, E. (2007). Antecedents affecting public service motivation. Personnel Review, 36(3), 356–377. https://doi.org/10.1108/00483480710731329
Chan, C. C. D. (2023). Principals’ perceptions of their job characteristics and personal outcomes in Hong Kong public primary schools: Diagnosis based on the job characteristics model [Doctoral dissertation, University of Bristol].
Chico, E., Tous, J. M., Lorenzo-Seva, U., & Vigil-Colet, A. (2003). Spanish adaptation of Dickman’s impulsivity inventory: Its relationship to Eysenck’s personality questionnaire. Personality and Individual Differences, 35, 1883–1892. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(03)00037-0
Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1992). Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) and NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) professional manual. Psychological Assessment Resources.
de Souza Camões, M. R., & de Oliveira Gomes, A. (2024). Engajamento no Trabalho de Servidores Públicos na Perspectiva de Especialistas. Revista do Serviço Público (Civil Service Review), 75(2). https://doi.org/10.21874/rsp.v75i2.9884
Demerouti, E., Bakker, A. B., Nachreiner, F., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2001). The job demands-resources model of burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86, 499–512. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.3.499
Dickman, S. J. (1990). Functional and dysfunctional impulsivity: Personality and cognitive correlates. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58(1), 95–102. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.58.1.95
Dikkers, J. S. E., Jansen, P. G. W., de Lange, A. H., Vinkenburg, C. J., & Kooij, D. (2010). Proactivity, job characteristics, and engagement: A longitudinal study. Career Development International, 15(1), 59–77. https://doi.org/10.1108/13620431011020899
Escribà-Agüir, V., Más, R., & Flores, E. (2001). Validación del Job Content Questionnaire en personal de enfermería hospitalario. Gaceta Sanitaria, 15, 142–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0213-9111(01)71533-6
Farhang, A. (2011). The relationship between organizational learning and organizational trust with staff development in public universities in the South East [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Isfahan.
Feng, Y., Li, F., & Sun, H. (2022). A study on the relationship between self-efficacy, psychological resilience, and job burnout of grassroots civil servants. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 64(10), 889–895. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002600
Fisher, C. D. (2010). Happiness at work. International Journal of Management Reviews, 12(4), 384–412. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2370.2009.00270.x
Fuertes, F., Munduate, L., & Fortea, M. A. (1994). Manual y material de prácticas de Psicología del Trabajo y de las Organizaciones. 1: JDS. Centro de Publicaciones de la Universidad Jaume I.
González, L. (1997). Factorial structure and psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the “Job Diagnostic Survey” (JDS). Psicologica, 18(3), 227–251.
Hackman, J. R., & Oldham, G. R. (1980). Work redesign. Addison-Wesley.
Hakanen, J. J., Bakker, A. B., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2006). Burnout and work engagement among teachers. Journal of School Psychology, 43(6), 495–513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2005.11.001
Ibrahim, M., & Al Falasi, S. (2014). Employee loyalty and engagement in UAE public sector. Employee Relations, 36(5), 562–582. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-07-2013-0098
Inoue, A., Kawakami, N., Tsuno, K., Shimazu, A., Tomioka, K., & Nakanishi, M. (2013). Job demands, job resources, and work engagement of Japanese employees: A prospective cohort study. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 86, 441–449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-012-0777-1
Irfan, M., Khan, S. Z., Hassan, N., Hassan, M., Habib, M., Khan, S., & Khan, H. H. (2021). Role of project planning and project manager competencies on public sector project success. Sustainability, 13(3), 1421. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031421
Jensen, A. R. (1993). Why is reaction time correlated with psychometric g? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2(2), 53–56. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.ep10770697
Karanika-Murray, M., Duncan, N., Pontes, H. M., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015). Organizational identification, work engagement, and job satisfaction. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 30(8), 1019–1033. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-11-2013-0359
Karasek, R. (1992). Stress prevention through work reorganization: A summary of 19 international case studies. ILO Conditions of Work Digest: Preventing Stress at Work, 11, 23–42.
Karasek, R., & Theorell, T. (1990). Healthy work: Stress, productivity, and the reconstruction of working life. Basic Books.
Karim, M. N., & Behrend, T. S. (2013). Controlling engagement: The effects of learner control on engagement and satisfaction. Cutting-Edge Technologies in Higher Education, 6(Part G), 59–82. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2044-9968(2013)000006G005
Kim, T., & Cho, W. (2024). Employee voice opportunities enhance organizational performance when faced with competing demands. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 44(4), 713–739. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734371X231190327
Kodz, J., Davis, S., Lain, D., Strebler, M., Rick, J., Bates, P., Cummings, J., Meager, N., Anxo, D., Gineste, S., Trinczek, R., & Pamer, S. (2003). Working long hours: A review of the evidence. Volume 1—Main report (Employment Relations Research Series 16). Department of Trade and Industry. https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.4808.3527
Krishna, S. M., & Agrawal, S. (2025). Creative performance of Millennials and Generation Z: What matters more, intrinsic or extrinsic rewards? Administrative Sciences, 15(1), Article 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15010011
Krpálek, P., Berková, K., Kubišová, A., Krelová, K. K., Frendlovská, D., & Spiesová, D. (2021). Formation of professional competences and soft skills of public administration employees for sustainable professional development. Sustainability, 13(10), 5533. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105533
Llorens, S., Bakker, A. B., Schaufeli, W. B., & Salanova, M. (2006). Testing the robustness of the job demands-resources model. International Journal of Stress Management, 13, 378–391. https://doi.org/10.1037/1072-5245.13.3.378
Macías-Robles, M. D., Fernández-López, J. A., Hernández-Mejía, R., Cueto-Espinar, A., Rancaãno, I., & Siegrist, J. (2003). Evaluation of occupational stress in workers of a Spanish public hospital. Study of the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the model “Effort-Reward Imbalance.” Medicina Clínica, 120(17), 652–657. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-7753(03)73799-3
Macip-Simó, S. (2015). Professional competences in the general body of the public administration [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Universitat Rovira i Virgili.
Mañas Rodríguez, M. Á., Salvador Ferrer, C. M., Díaz Fúnez, P. A., & Pecino Medina, V. (2014). Impacto de la comunicación de funciones directivas sobre el compromiso de los trabajadores en la Administración Pública. Universitas Psychologica, 13(4), 1581–1587. https://doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.UPSY13-4.icfd
Oldham, G., & Hackman, J. (2010). Not what it was and not what it will be: The future of job design research. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 31(2–3), 463–479. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.678
Örtenblad, A. (2004). The learning organization towards integrated model. The Learning Organization, 11 (2), 129–144. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09696470410521592
Palumbo, R. (2024). Turning into disengaged public servants: Examining the effects of discrimination on work engagement. Public Organization Review, 24, 1147–1170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-024-00771-3
Ravalier, J. M., McVicar, A., & Munn-Giddings, C. (2014). Public service stress and burnout over 12 months. Occupational Medicine, 64(7), 521–523. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqu100
Robbins, S., & Judge, T. (2008). Organizational behavior. Prentice-Hall.
Rowland, C., & Hall, R. (2014). Management learning, performance and reward: Theory and practice revisited. Journal of Management Development, 33(4), 342–356. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-08-2012-0110
Salanova, M., Schaufeli, W. B., Llorens, S., Peiró, J. M., & Grau, R. (2000). Desde el “burnout” al “engagement”: ¿Una nueva perspectiva? Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 16(2), 117–134.
Seligman, M. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Free Press.
Shalley, C. E., Zhou, J., & Oldham, G. R. (2004). The effects of personal and contextual characteristics on creativity: Where should we go from here? Journal of Management, 30(6), 933–958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jm.2004.06.007
Siegrist, J. (2000). Place, social exchange and health: Proposed sociological framework. Social Science & Medicine, 51(9), 1283–1293. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(00)00092-7
Vigil-Colet, A., Morales-Vives, F., Camps, E., Tous, J., & Lorenzo-Seva, U. (2013a). Development and validation of the Overall Personality Assessment Scale (OPERAS). Psicothema, 25, 100–106. https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2011.411
Woo, S. E., O’Boyle, E. H., & Spector, P. E. (2017). Best practices in developing, conducting, and evaluating inductive research. Human Resource Management Review, 27(2), 255–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2016.08.004
Zenger, J. H., & Folkman, J. (2011). El líder extraordinario [The extraordinary leader]. Profit Editorial.
Zhang, Y., Guo, Y., & Newman, A. (2017). Identity judgements, work engagement and organizational citizenship behavior: The mediating effects based on group engagement model. Tourism Management, 61, 190–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.01.005
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Organizations