German Language and Human Resource Management: Competency Frameworks for Multinational Firms in Lagos

This study develops and evaluates a competency framework for German language proficiency as a component of human resource management practice in multinational firms with German-speaking operations based in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. Human resource managers in these organisations are increasingly required to facilitate recruitment, performance management, and staff development processes that involve personnel from German-speaking parent companies or subsidiary operations. Despite this practical need, no systematic German language competency framework has been designed for the Nigerian HR management context. The study employs a three-stage methodology: a comprehensive literature review to establish theoretical foundations, stakeholder consultations with 20 HR managers at Lagos-based multinationals with German affiliations, and an expert panel review of a draft framework. The resulting competency framework specifies German language proficiency expectations at four career stages within HR management, with descriptors aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Validation exercises with a further panel of ten HR professionals confirm the framework's face validity and practical applicability. The study contributes a practical management tool for organisations seeking to systematise German language requirements in HR policy and provides a template adaptable to other professional management contexts. Keywords: German language competency, human resource management, multinational firms, Lagos, professional framework.