Design engineering competencies: future requirements and predicted changes in the forthcoming decade Mark A. Robinson, Institute of Work Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK Paul R. Sparrow, Manchester Business School, Booth Street West, Manchester M15 6PB, UK Chris Clegg and Kamal Birdi, Institute of Work Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK This paper seeks to address omissions in previous research by identifying a future competency profile for design engineers. A three-phase methodology using both quantitative and qualitative methods was employed. A competency profile for the future design engineer, 10 years hence, was generated. The profile consisted of 42 competencies divided into the following six competency groups (in descending order of criticality): personal attributes, project management, cognitive strategies, cognitive abilities, technical ability, and communication. Furthermore, non-technical competencies were forecast to become increasingly important in the future. Results were discussed with reference to their implications for the design engineering industry. Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: creativity, design behaviour, design cognition, innovation, psychology of design T he present study seeks primarily to identify the future competency requirements of design engineers, a role that little recent competency research has examined. This is an important omission for such a crucial engineering role, as competency-based approaches serve to enhance an organisation’s performance and therefore yield a competitive advantage (Lawler, 1994). A relatively typical definition of the term competency encompasses those underlying motives, traits, values, knowledge, and skills that are causally linked to effective job performance (Spencer and Spencer, 1993). It is important to note, however, that some authors additionally www.elsevier.com/locate/destud 0142-694X $ - see front matter Design Studies 26 (2005) 123e153 doi:10.1016/j.destud.2004.09.004 123 Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved Printed in Great Britain