Towards A Knowledge-Based Framework of Competence Development

Abstract The theory of competence-based competition emphasizes the importance of strategic learning and knowledge management for the development of organizational competence. This approach presents an opportunity for linking the literature on competence-based competition with the existing body of research on organizational learning and knowledge management. This chapter discusses elements of a knowledge-based framework of competence development. Based on an in-depth case study of various ecology-related projects in a large Swiss retailing company, competence development is described as a sequence of imagination, implementation, and integration activities. The knowledge-related processes in each stage are analyzed by observing the role of know-what, know-why, and know-how, as well as the links between these different levels of organizational knowledge. The conclusion suggests implications of this framework for further research on competence-based competition.