Professional organizations have linked core competencies to professional success and competitive strategy. The Research Chefs Association (RCA) recently released 43 core competencies for practicing Culinologist. Culinology® is a profession that links skills of culinary arts and food science and technology in the development of food products.
A mixed method quantitative/qualitative study was performed. The qualitative portion aimed to understand what RCA members know about the state of the RCA membership, the new Culinology® core competencies, and the best way to assess the knowledge of each competency. Three focus groups were conducted at the 2007 RCA Annual Conference and Culinology® Expo. Participants (n = 20) from all six membership categories attended. RCA members agreed that there was benefit to a competency assessment and were confident that the results may have the potential to improve the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of RCA members, which ultimately benefits members, employers, and the entire industry.
An online survey was created asking RCA members from all six membership categories to rate their knowledge level based on a seven point scale and agreement to importance in job performance based on a 5-point Likert Scale for each competency statement. RCA participant's (N=192) survey results were analyzed using SPSS for Windows v.13 at (alpha = 0.05). Statistical survey validation grouped all 43 competency statements into eight factors according to level of competency proficiency (opposed to the seven groups each competency was originally designated by the RCA) and into nine factors according to job success.
Results suggest that Chef Members know “Culinary Arts” best, FST members know “Food Science” best, and Culinology® members perceive their knowledge level between that of the Chef and FST members. Significant (alpha = .01) correlations between the knowledge of and importance to job success factors indicated positive relationships between factors within each set. An opportunity exists to better define RCA defined membership categories and improve educational efforts for specific membership categories.