COMPETENCY-BASED TRAINING AS A MEDIATOR IN PUBLIC SECTOR PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM THE UAE GOVERNMENT

Abstract Purpose: This study examines how employee competencies (EC) and the competency framework (CF) influence employees’ performance management (EPM) in UAE federal government entities, with competency-based training (CBT) as a policy-level HRM mediator. Methodology: A structured questionnaire (43 items) was distributed to 418 federal government employees, and data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) in AMOS. Findings: The results show that both EC and CF have significant positive effects on EPM (β=0.35 and β=0.45, respectively). Both EC and CF also strongly predict CBT (β=0.36 and β=0.56), which in turn has a large positive impact on EPM (β=0.70). Bootstrapping analysis confirms that CBT partially mediates the relationships EC→EPM (indirect β=0.255, p=0.03) and CF→EPM (indirect β=0.395, p<0.01). These outcomes suggest that CBT is a crucial mechanism through which competencies and frameworks enhance performance management (PM). Originality: The research adds valuable insights in the literature by integrating competency and training theories, and has practical implications: UAE government agencies should maintain robust CF and systematically design CBT programs to align employee development with performance goals.