In today's world however, that often means coping with the on-going changes they experience around them. In Cunningham's experience, self managed learning is only lasting when it is systemic and holistic. Facilitating this process is itself quite a challenge, but this book is an outline of a game-plan for those who are willing to invest the effort. In my view however, there is room for both these terms. Competencies cover generic skills which can be mobilized for the performance of a task in whatever job or responsibility.
Capabilities refer to specific skills which are localized in a particular job or role.
However, the larger and longer-term interests of workers is to acquire and upgrade their competencies, so that they can apply their skills across situations and transfer them between jobs. In these circumstances however, workers will often find that a focus on competencies will require that they develop a self-reliant approach to their own learning. The point is, that effective learning must not only be self managed but also self disciplined. In these circumstances, life itself becomes a learning experience. Hence the need for self management and self discipline becomes obvious, because there is no one else to set the learning agenda but ones' self.