Search Results per_competences

Overview

The PER_COMPETENCES table is a core data object within the Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) Human Resources (HR) module, specifically in releases 12.1.1 and 12.2.2. It serves as the master repository for defining competencies within the system. A competence, as defined by the ETRM, is a formal definition of knowledge, skills, abilities, or other characteristics (KSAOs) that an individual may possess. This table is foundational for talent management processes, enabling organizations to catalog, assess, and manage the competencies required for roles, held by employees, or needed for career development and succession planning. Its data is central to competency assessments, profile matching, and gap analysis.

Key Information Stored

The table stores the defining attributes for each unique competence. Key columns include the system-generated primary key, COMPETENCE_ID, and the human-readable NAME. The BUSINESS_GROUP_ID column is critical for multi-organization security, linking the competence definition to a specific business group and enforcing data separation. Other significant columns include COMPETENCE_ALIAS for an alternative identifier and COMPETENCE_DEFINITION_ID, which links to the PER_COMPETENCE_DEFINITIONS table for detailed descriptive text. The RATING_SCALE_ID foreign key associates the competence with a predefined rating scale (from PER_RATING_SCALES), which dictates the valid measurement levels (e.g., 1-5, Beginner to Expert) for assessments against this competence.

Common Use Cases and Queries

A primary use case is generating a master list of competencies for a business group, often for maintenance or reporting. A typical query would be:

• SELECT competence_id, name, competence_alias FROM per_competences WHERE business_group_id = &bg_id ORDER BY name;

Another common scenario involves reporting on competencies linked to specific job roles or positions, which requires joining through intermediary tables like PER_COMPETENCE_ELEMENTS. For technical integrations, such as loading competency data via APIs, the unique key constraints (UK2 on NAME and BUSINESS_GROUP_ID, and UK3 on COMPETENCE_ALIAS) are crucial to prevent duplicate entries. Developers often reference this table when building custom components for skills inventories or competency-based applicant tracking.

Related Objects

PER_COMPETENCES sits at the center of a relational schema. It is referenced by numerous child tables that record assessments and assignments, including PER_COMPETENCE_ELEMENTS (linking competencies to jobs or positions), PER_COMPETENCE_OUTCOMES (storing assessed competency levels for persons), and PER_RATING_LEVELS (defining the valid ratings for the competence). It also has a relationship with AHL_RESOURCE_SKILLS in the Service suite. Key parent tables it references include PER_COMPETENCE_DEFINITIONS for descriptive text, PER_RATING_SCALES for measurement criteria, and HR_ALL_ORGANIZATION_UNITS via BUSINESS_GROUP_ID for security. This network of relationships underscores its integral role in the HR talent management framework.