DOL Entrepreneurship Competency Model PDF
DOL Entrepreneurship Competency Model PDF
DOL Entrepreneurship Competency Model PDF
The Entrepreneurship Competency Model is depicted in a graphic consisting of nine tiers. The
arrangement of the tiers in a pyramidal shape is not meant to be hierarchical, or to imply that
competencies at the top are at a higher level of skill. The model’s shape represents the increasing
specialization and specificity in the application of skills as you move up the tiers. Tiers 1-4 have
been developed and are divided into blocks. The blocks represent competency areas, that is, the
applied skills, knowledge, abilities essential to successful entrepreneurial performance. A table of
the competency definitions and associated key behaviors accompanies the graphic.
Tier 3 – Workplace Competencies represent motives and traits, as well as interpersonal and
self-management styles. They generally are applicable to a large number of occupations and
industries.
Tiers 4 and 5 contain Industry Competencies, which are specific to an industry or industry sector.
Since entrepreneurship is not an industry, tiers 4 and 5 have been broken out as follows:
Tier 4 – Entrepreneurship Technical Competencies represent the knowledge and skills that are
common to all entrepreneurial activities. These technical competencies build on, but are more
specific than, competencies represented on lower tiers.
Tier 5 – Entrepreneurial Focus Areas represent types of enterprise. Related competencies may
be developed by interest groups or communities of practice.
Tiers 6 through 9 represent the specialization that occurs within specific occupations within an
industry. Information on occupational competencies is available through O*NET OnLine
(http://online.onetcenter.org/).
1. Interpersonal Skills: Displaying skills to work with others from diverse backgrounds.
Demonstrate Insight into Behavior
Interpret accurately the verbal and nonverbal behavior of others
Show insight into the actions and motives of others
Recognize when relationships with others are strained
Assess the abilities and personalities of others
Work Independently
Develop own ways of doing things
Perform effectively with minimal direction, support, or approval
Exert effort toward task mastery
Bring issues to closure by pushing forward until a resolution is achieved
Persistence
Pursue work with passion, energy, drive, and a strong accomplishment orientation
Accomplish tasks even when conditions are difficult or deadlines are tight
Persist at a task or problem despite interruptions, obstacles, or setbacks
Perseverance
Show patience, tenacity, and determination to achieve goals
Undertake long-term commitments to new projects
Cope with stress and ambiguity, especially in times of uncertainty
Weather the highs and lows of business
Assume Risks
Take calculated risks
Develop back-up and alternative plans to minimize potential risk factors
Treat failures, should they occur, as valuable learning experiences
6. Willingness to Learn: Displaying a willingness to learn and apply new knowledge and
skills.
Demonstrate an Interest in Learning
Be curious and attentive to identify business opportunities (the environment in which
businesses operate is constantly changing)
Anticipate changes in work demands
Search for and participate in assignments or training that address changing demands
Treat unexpected circumstances as opportunities to learn
Learning Strategies
Set lifelong learning goals
Identify when it is necessary to acquire new knowledge and skills
Pursue opportunities to develop new knowledge, skills, and expertise
Attention to Detail
Identify main ideas
Note details and facts
Detect inconsistencies
Identify implied meaning and details, missing information, and trends
Integration
Analyze information in written materials
Synthesize information from various written materials
Application
Integrate what is learned from written materials with prior knowledge
Apply what is learned from written material to follow instructions and complete tasks
Tone
Write in a manner appropriate for business
Use language appropriate for the target audience
Use appropriate tone and word choice (e.g., writing is professional and courteous)
Computation
Perform basic math computations accurately
Translate practical problems into useful mathematical expressions
Use appropriate mathematical formulas and techniques
Add, subtract, multiply, and divide with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and
percents
Graph and chart data
Calculate percentages, averages, ratios, proportions, and rates
Convert decimals to fractions and fractions to percents
Financial Literacy
Apply personal money-management principles and strategies to personal finances
Explain the functions and services of financial institutions
4. Science & Technology: Applying scientific principles and using technology to solve
problems or develop solutions.
Comprehension & Application
Explain basic scientific principles
Use commonly available technology
Consider carefully which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job
Choose consistently the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand
Demonstrate innovative thinking by using new and existing technology in new ways
Persuasion/Influence
Influence others
Present thoughts and ideas in a persuasive manner
Gain commitment and support for proposed ideas
Help others overcome resistance to change
Woo venture capitalists and other contacts to seek financial support for new ideas
Persuade key decision makers to invest resources to transform ideas into reality
Active Listening
Receive verbal messages and other cues
Pick out important information in verbal messages
Appreciate feelings and concerns of verbal messages
Attend to nonverbal cues
Respond appropriately to verbal and nonverbal messages
Ask questions to clarify issues or unclear messages
6. Critical & Analytical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to address problems.
Mental Agility
Identify connections between issues
Learn new enterprises quickly
Shift gears and change direction when working on multiple projects or issues
Reasoning
Possess sufficient inductive and deductive reasoning ability to perform job successfully
Critically review, analyze, synthesize, compare and interpret information
Draw conclusions from relevant and/or missing information
Apply knowledge of the relationships among facts when solving problems
Understand principles of cause and effect
Partnering
Establish strong and lasting partnerships with business contacts
Seek ways of increasing business opportunities with contacts
Negotiate with partners to create opportunities that increase the competitive position of
both parties
Propose innovative business deals to customers, suppliers, and business partners
Leveraging Contacts
Leverage contacts to obtain information relevant to the health and continued growth of
the organization, including feedback on organizational performance
Access outside consultants who can provide market projections and advice
Collaboration
Collaborate among partners to ensure buy-in and follow through on strategies
Identify mutually beneficial goals and work cooperatively with partners to achieve them
Collaborate in virtual teams via conference calls, web casts, and net meetings
3. Planning & Organizing: Planning and prioritizing work to manage time effectively and
accomplish assigned tasks.
Planning
Approach work in a methodical manner
Develop business plans to map out approaches to new ventures
Schedule tasks so that work is completed on time
Keep track of details to ensure work is performed accurately and completely
Allocating Resources
Estimate resources needed for project completion
Allocate time and resources effectively
Keep all parties informed of progress and relevant changes to project timelines
Anticipating Obstacles
Anticipate obstacles to project completion
Develop contingency plans to address obstacles
Take necessary corrective action when projects go off-track
4. Problem Solving & Decision Making: Applying critical-thinking skills to solve problems
by generating, evaluating, and implementing solutions.
Identifying the Problem
Anticipate concerns before they arise
Recognize the existence of a problem
Deal with problems and challenges in order or priority
Identify the nature of the problem by analyzing its component parts
Recall previously learned information that is relevant to the problem
Generating Alternatives
Integrate previously learned and externally obtained information to generate a variety of
high-quality alternative approaches to the problem
Identify the strengths and weaknesses, the costs and benefits, and the short- and long-
term consequences of different approaches
Record Keeping
Keep logs, records and files that are up-to-date and readily accessible
Update logs, files, and records, noting important changes in status
Maintain record of daily financial transactions
Maintain personnel records
Maintain customer records
6. Business Fundamentals: Applying knowledge of basic business principles, trends, and
economics to work activities.
Business Ethics
Demonstrate respect for colleagues, coworkers, and customers
Act in the best interest of the company, the community, and the environment
Comply with applicable laws and rules governing work
Recognize relevant, ethical issues in business
Market Knowledge
Explain market trends in the industry and the company’s position in the market
Identify who the company’s primary competitors are
Stay current on organizational strategies to maintain competitiveness
Preparing Documents
Use word processing programs to create, edit, and retrieve document files
Key materials quickly and accurately
Check work carefully
Identify and correct keying errors
Use basic reference materials and tools (e.g., spell check) to ensure accuracy
Use correct style and format, consulting style manuals as necessary
Internet Applications
Use the internet and web-based tools to manage basic workplace tasks (e.g., timekeeping,
maintaining employee records, conducting information searches)
Perform internet functions requiring the use of log-in and password information
E-mailing
Compose professional e-mails to communicate business-related information to
coworkers, colleagues, and customers
Navigate the e-mail system and its basic functions (e.g., replying to/forwarding
messages, using electronic address books, attaching files)
Ensure that key stakeholders are kept informed of communications by copying (i.e.,
“CCing”) them on important e-mails when appropriate
Managing Growth
Use a replicable process to create enterprises that are sustainable
Manage the implementation and execution of the business plan to grow the enterprise
Recognize when to seek outside help and use available resources
Follow advice from trusted sources
Recognize when the enterprise has reached its potential
Develop a continuation plan
Pass over leadership to others when the organization needs change
2. Innovation & Invention: Formulating new ideas for and applications of processes and
products.
Opportunity Orientation
Identify changes in tastes, preferences, and trends as they are evolving
Identify needs, wants, and problems as they are changing
Identify smaller niche markets within larger markets
Seek out opportunities to develop and offer new products and services
Seek out opportunities to improve, streamline, reinvent work processes
Maintain fit between business concept and opportunity
Evaluate opportunities
Create and undertake new business ventures
Technology Transfer
Identify scientific research which has potential commercial value
Stages of Planning
The Visionary Plan
o Identify a clear entrepreneurial opportunity
o Demonstrate research to support the viability of the idea
o Develop a rudimentary cash-flow projection
o Describe personnel requirements
Product/Service Management
Implement various methods to generate a product/service idea
Plan product/service mix
Choose product/service name
Build brand/image
Evaluate customer experience
Pricing
Establish pricing objectives
Select pricing strategies
Set prices and adjust as necessary to maximize profitability
Selling
Establish relationship with the client/customer
Determine customer/client needs and motives
Recommend specific product
Convert customer/client objections into selling points
Close the sale
Manage online sales process
Accounting
Implement regular accounting procedures and financial reports
Prepare estimated/projected income statement
Estimate cash-flow needs
Prepare estimated/projected balance sheet
Determine and deposit payroll taxes
File tax returns
Money Management
Establish financial goals and objectives
Develop and monitor budget
Manage cash flow
Record deposits and withdrawals
Implement procedures for managing debt
Legal Considerations
Protect intellectual property rights
Select form of business ownership (e.g., sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation)
Obtain legal documents for business operations
Explain businesses’ reporting requirements
Adhere to personnel regulations
Implement workplace regulations (e.g., OSHA, ADA)
Identify resources to keep current on business related laws and regulations
It is beyond the scope of this project to develop competencies around Tier 5 Entrepreneurial
Focus Areas. The inclusion of focus areas in the model is intended to illustrate that the
Entrepreneurship Competency Model serves a resource that underlies entrepreneurial activities at
various levels of enterprise. The focus areas may be built out by interest groups or communities
of practice.
1. Youth Entrepreneurship
o K-12 education
o Community-based entrepreneurship education providers
o Foster innovation and entrepreneurial thinking
2. Micro-Enterprise
o Cottage industry
o Quick startup
o Low capital investment
o Low income
3. Small Business Development
o Startup capital required
o Franchise
o Revenue - over $25,000 but less than $100,000
4. Social Entrepreneurship
Social Enterprise
o Entrepreneurs who start their own businesses
o “Sector-bending” – blurring lines between business and social sectors
Social Innovation
o Entrepreneurs as innovators
o New ways to address social problems or meet social needs
o Large scale, lasting, and systemic change
5. High-Growth, High-Value Entrepreneurship
o Venture capital
o Angel investors
o Requires money management/marketing
o Innovation – research ideas to market
o Creates wealth
o Employs others
o Revenue – over $250,000
Resources Reviewed