Performance Capabilities and Competencies at the Undergraduate and Graduate Levels for Performance Improvement Professionals.

This quantitative study sought to identify the performance capabilities and competencies that organizations in the northern midwestern United States expect of future performance improvement professionals at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Eighty-nine performance improvement professionals representing 89 organizations completed an online survey that captured the participants' perspective regarding undergraduate and graduate-level performance capabilities, and undergraduate competency expectations. Results suggest that participants expect several training and development performance capabilities, a few organization developments, and no performance management performance capabilities at the undergraduate level. Several training and development capabilities, most organization development capabilities, and all performance management performance capabilities were expected at the graduate level. This definition is fundamental to support academic curricular development and the field of performance improvement.