Business rescue practitioners’ tasks are complex and vaguely stated and associated with generic competencies. These tasks involve a wide range of knowledge and skills. The question that was researched focused on what the competencies are that underlie the activities of the business rescue practitioner. By evaluating the main activities, research showed that, for business rescue practitioners to successfully navigate a distressed venture towards normal operations, they should demonstrate a high level of competency in sense-making, decision-making, and integration, which they achieve through collaboration as the central competency.

The study addressed the need of educators for a framework of competencies to be included in teaching aspirant business rescue practitioners. It also paves the way for the regulatory authorities and business rescue practitioners in this newly instituted regime to develop a qualifications framework for licensing business rescue practitioners at different levels within the profession. By focusing on future certification and based on these competencies, business rescue practitioners can be licensed accordingly.