Competency-Based Frameworks in Automotive Body Development: A Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14513/tge-jres.00443Keywords:
project planning, job performance, individual competencies, automotive industry, cross-border projectsAbstract
Purpose – This study examines the correlation between individual competences and project performance in the context of international automotive body development. Increasing cross-border outsourcing among suppliers has intensified the demand for project planning methodologies that consider variations in individual talents and behavioral characteristics. The precise assessment of development timescales is affected by both technical proficiency and interpersonal abilities, including communication, collaboration, and decision-making.
Design/methodology/approach – A systematic literature review was conducted to analyze peer-reviewed research published between 1999 and 2025. The review process included structured database searches, thematic screening, and quality assessment. Studies were selected using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and organized into thematic categories.
Findings – A total of 33 relevant studies were identified and classified into four thematic clusters: project management, competency development and learning, recruitment and internships, and automotive-specific skills. The review reveals a growing interest in competency-based approaches but also identifies a consistent gap in linking individual competencies to measurable performance in automotive body development projects. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating behavioral attributes such as teamwork, leadership, and adaptability with technical knowledge in order to improve project outcomes.
Originality – Although the broader project management literature increasingly addresses the role of competencies, few studies focus specifically on the automotive body development context. This paper proposes a holistic, competency-based planning framework that incorporates both behavioral and technical dimensions of performance. Such an approach may enhance time estimation, resource allocation, and stakeholder coordination in complex, internationally distributed development settings.
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