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Review
. 2023 Jun 1;11(6):107.
doi: 10.3390/jintelligence11060107.

Reconciling Hard Skills and Soft Skills in a Common Framework: The Generic Skills Component Approach

Jeremy Lamri  1 , Todd Lubart  1
Affiliations
Review

Reconciling Hard Skills and Soft Skills in a Common Framework: The Generic Skills Component Approach

Jeremy Lamri et al. J Intell. .

Abstract

The distinction between hard and soft skills has long been a topic of debate in the field of psychology, with hard skills referring to technical or practical abilities, and soft skills relating to interpersonal capabilities. This paper explores the generic composition of any skill, proposing a unified framework that consists of five distinct components: knowledge, active cognition, conation, affection, and sensory-motor abilities. Building upon previous research and theories, such as Hilgard's "Trilogy of Mind", the generic skill components approach aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the structure and composition of any skill, whether hard or soft. By examining these components and their interactions, we can gain a more in-depth understanding of the nature of skills and their development. This approach has several potential applications and implications for various fields, including education, training, and workplace productivity. Further research is needed to refine and expand upon the generic skill components theory, exploring the interactions between the different components, as well as the impact of contextual factors on skill development and use.

Keywords: affection; cognition; conation; hard skills; skills; soft skills.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest or any other ethical considerations with respect to this study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Visual representation of the generic skills’ components framework.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Visual representation of the generic skills components’ framework for the skill ‘Oral communication’.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Visual representation of the generic skills’ components framework for the skill “Python programming”.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Visual representation of the generic skills’ components framework for the skill “Logical analysis”.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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