The final chapter of a seven-section report that examined the assessment of occupational competence, this chapter explores the key patterns and commonalities that have emerged from the study of occupational competency assessment. The chapter begins with a synthesis of the state of the art of competency definition and measurement under four topic headings: definition of competence (what is measured), derivations of competence variables (how hypothesized competencies are identified), the measurement of competence, and the validity of competencies defined. The synthesis is followed by an in-depth discussion of the themes which emerge from the points of view of the various components of the human resource development system: the consumer, the educational system, licensing and certification, employers, the federal government, and the research and development community. The third major portion of the chapter examines key countervailing forces which present problems for advancing the practice of defining and assessing competence. The concluding section discusses what the actors in the human resource development system can do to improve the practice of competence assessment through economic incentives, law and regulation, dissemination, government practice, and program evaluation. (Other sections of the report are available separately--see note. The first is an overview; the last is a synthesis of issues.) (LRA)