Core competencies of the correctional staff in tirunelveli prison – An analysis

Human Resource Management has focused on considerable theoretical development and empirical research support to the studies of the prison employees. Like people, occupations also have traits or characteristics. These characteristics give important clues about the nature of work and work environment and an opportunity to match personal interests to occupations. Competencies can be observed and measured when consistently demonstrated. Competencies make employees particularly effective in their work. Competencies help lay out a road map to career success. Career success is both what employees do and how they do it. A core competency is fundamental knowledge, ability, or expertise in a specific subject area or skill set. A core competency can take various forms, including technical/subject matter know how, a reliable process and close relationships with customers and suppliers (Mascarenhas et al. 1998). It may also include product development or culture, such as employee dedication. This study identifies a model that measures the competencies of the employees that changes a control management philosophy to a collaborative philosophy. It also changes an environment where value is placed on the job to one where value is placed on people and their competencies and from a work force that offers compliance to a workforce. Core competencies are particular strengths relative to other organizations in the industry which provide the fundamental basis for the provision of added value. Cluster of extraordinary abilities or related excellences that an institution acquires from its founders, after consistent striving over the years, and which cannot be easily initiated. Core competencies provide the institution one or more advantages in creating and delivering value to its customers in its chosen field. Thus the core competency is something that an organization can do well and the meets the following three conditions: (1) It provides consumer benefits, (2) It is not easy for competitors to imitate and (3) It can be leveraged widely to many products and markets. In this study consumers will be the society in general and the prisoners in particular wsho will be the beneficiaries, when the process of rehabilitation and reformation is facilitated. The onus largely lies on the attitude and skills of the correctional staff. This study focus on correctional staff in the Palayamkottai Central prison attempts to define competencies for the correctional system. The study highlights identifying the development opportunities and helps the staff in the prison department to refine their core competency to be successful in their job.