Behaviorally anchored rating scales are constructed that give typical examples of the types of activities or behaviors performed at each rating point. Operational Definitions - This approach uses specific job activity statements to describe level differences in competency requirements. This approach uses conceptually similar but distinct labels for describing level differences in competencies. For example, cognitive competencies might be given different labels and generic definitions at different levels. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages.
Quantitative approaches require developing behaviorally anchored rating scales for each competency.
However, once developed, the scales facilitate a comparison of competency requirements for different positions and can be very useful for career planning. Operationally defining competencies with specific job activities maximizes user understanding and acceptance of how the competency is related to the job. However, this approach requires the identification of relevant job activities that can anchor each competency which can increase the time and effort required to build competency models. These operational definitions must also be updated as job content changes over time. Using slightly different labeling practices for competencies at different levels can promote acceptance and improve specificity of competency models but has the drawback of rapidly increasing the number of competencies that a user might encounter in various applications.