Competencies for Effective Public Procurement

This chapter explores the dual nature of professional competences, distinguishing between conceptual (cognitive, knowledge-based, and meta-competences such as learning to learn) and operational (functional, psychomotor, and applied skills) dimensions. It underscores how individual effectiveness is similarly rooted in both conceptual and operational domains, with meta-competences and social behaviours playing pivotal roles. Drawing on foundational works such as Delamare-Le Deist and Winterton (2005), the chapter synthesises contemporary perspectives to clarify how competences are structured and applied in professional contexts. The discussion provides a framework for understanding the interplay between these competence types, offering insights for educators, practitioners, and researchers in fields ranging from psychology to procurement and management.