Employees’ perceptions of interpersonal competence: The case of South Korea

This study examined employees’ perceptions of interpersonal competence at work through the research methodology known as concept mapping. The purpose of this study was to identify the phenomenally derived components of interpersonal competence in work environments and employees’ underlying cognitive structures of interpersonal competence at work. Multidimensional scaling analysis indicated that the participants conceptualized interpersonal competence in the following two dimensions: (i) work-specific domain versus general domain and (ii) unilateral domain versus bilateral domain. In addition, hierarchical clustering on the MDS coordinates produced six clusters: Caring & Considerate, Sociable & Out-going, Kind & Gentle, Reliable & Leadership skills, and Confident & Responsible. Our results were discussed with respect to future research and educational approaches to the issues surrounding interpersonal competencies at work.